c^ 


Seal,  one  mile  to  one  Inch.  TOWN     OF     HADDAM, 


BY  GONE  DAYS 

IN 

PONSETT-HADDAM 

MIDDLESEX  COUNTY,  CONNECTICUT 

A    STORY 


BY 

REV.  WILLIAM  C.  KNOWLES 

RECTOR  ST.   JAMES  CHURCH,   PONSETT 


PRJVATELY   PRINTED 


NEW    YORK 
1914 


TO 

MY  ESTEEMED  FRIEND 

SAMUEL  THOMAS  HUBBARD 

THIS  LITTLE  WORK 

IS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED 

BY 

THE  AUTHOR 


2012373 


CONTENTS 

Page 

Introduction    3 

Historic  Landmarks 5 

A  Galaxy  of  Old  Folks 25 

Unforgotten  Worthies 27 

The  Indian  Population 34 

A  Noble  Army  of  Martyrs 41 

Chapter  of  Casualties 43 

Ponsett's  Picturesque  Features 45 

The  Roll  of  Clericals 48 

Public  Worship 50 

The  Medical  Profession 52 

Ponsett  in  the  Wars 54 

About  Our  Ancestry 56 

Old  Documents 58 

Index 63 

Topographical  Map,  Town  of  Haddam Frontispiece 

Ponsett-Haddam  Landmarks    Facing  page  24 


INTRODUCTION 

At  the  urgent  request  of  a  friend,  the  writer  has  undertaken 
to  give  a  description  of  Ponsett  as  it  was  before  its  consolidation 
with  Little  City  District.*  The  object  is  to  furnish  for  the  former 
inhabitants  of  this  locality,  a  brief  account  of  the  place  and 
people  with  whom  they  once  associated,  of  the  rugged  rocks  and 
hills,  the  pleasant  valleys,  the  gently  flowing  streams  and  the  dear 
old  roads  over  which  as  boys  they  trudged  to  school,  or  as  young 
men  walked  homo  from  evening  meeting  at  the  School  House  with 
best  girl  leaning  on  the  arm,  Happy  days — how  well  we  re- 
member them !  Before  starting  on  our  trip  let  us  inquire  into  a 
little  of  our  former  history, 

Ponsett  is  the  south  west  portion  of  the  town  of  Haddam. 
The  Indians  called  all  the  Southwestern  part  of  the  town  of 
Haddam,  Cockaponsit;  leaving  off  the  two  first  syllables  of 
which,  we  have  the  remnant  of  a  name  in  which  we  take  pride.  We 
have  but  little  patience  with  the  phrase  West  Haddam,  inasmuch 
as  the  good  old  town  of  Haddam  had  appendages  enough  without 
being  unnecessarily  burdened  with  another. 

We  first  find  our  name  on  the  town  records  about  1690,  in 
which  is  mentioned  "Land  belonging  to  Nathaniel  Spencer  in  Cock- 
aponsit in  Haddam,  being  a  house-lot  containing  eight  acres  more 
or  less,"  and  again,  "Land  belonging  to  John  Baly  in  "Cocka- 
ponsit," and  "Land  belonging  to  Ephm,  Baly  at  Cockaponsit," 

"It  is  probable  that  a  settlement  was  made  here  very  soon 
after  the  first  settlement  at  Haddam  in  1662, 

When  the  settlers  of  the  town  purchased  of  the  Indians 
for  "Thirt}'  coats,"  the  tract  of  land  extending  from  the  Con- 


*We  write  in  1907, 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 


necticut  River  six  miles  westward,  Cockaponsit  was,  of  course, 
included  in  the  purchase ;  though,  which  of  the  four  kings,  Sachus- 
quatevemapid,  Keawaytaluie,  Turramuggus  and  Xabahuctt,  or  the 
two  queens,  Sepunnemo  pampcossamc  and  Towkishe,  the  signers  of 
the  deed,  were  the  original  rulers  of  Cockaponset,  cannot  be 
ascertained. 

That  this  region  was,  at  one  time,  well  populated  b}'  the 
aborigines  is  evident  b}"  the  arrow  heads  and  other  Indian  relics 
which  from  time  to  time  are  unearthed  even  to  the  present  day.  A 
remnant  of  the  natives  of  the  soil  lingered  here  for  a  long  time 
after  the  coming  of  the  white  man,  a  few  remaining  into  the 
beginning  of  the  last  century.  Quite  a  number  of  Indian  graves 
are  to  be  seen  in  the  old  burying  ground. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 


HISTORIC  LANDMARKS. 

Let  us  now  give  a  parting  glance,  as  it  were,  to  the  old  places 
and  recall  the  forms  and  faces  of  the  loved  ones,  many  of  whom 
have  passed  "over  the  river,"  while  those  that  are  living  and  widely- 
separated,  we  may  never  meet  again.  We  invite  you,  then,  dear 
reader,  to  take  a  tramp  with  us  over  the  Ponsett  hills.  We  trust 
our  journey  will  be  a  pleasant  one.  We  shall  pause  at  every  old 
house-place  and  give  as  best  we  can  its  history,  and  occasionally 
some  reminiscences  of  those  who  once  lived  there.  The  map  at  the 
end  of  this  chapter  shall  be  our  guide.  The  outside  borders  may 
not  be  quite  correct,  especially  the  north  western,  but  the  roads, 
houses  and  sites  of  former  houses  are  in  the  main  accurate.  Minor 
mistakes  there  may  be  which  I  trust  the  reader  will  overlook  and 
rectify  where  needed. 

We  first  take  up  Killingworth  turnpike  at  its  upper  boun- 
dary and  proceed  southward  as  follows : 

1.  House  built  in  1861,  by  John  L.  Morrill.  He  died  in 
1864  and  is  buried  in  a  knoll  a  few  rods  west  of  the  house;  build- 
ing now  unoccupied. 


3.  Hole  in  the  ground,  said  to  have  been  the  cellar  of  one 
Ferguson  a  turner  who  had  a  dish-mill  at  the  falls.  Think  the  site 
doubtful :  more  probable,  site  38. 


3.      The  cellar  place  of  the  house  of  John  Turner,  a  black- 
smith, whose  shop  was  site  8. 


Bif  Gone  Da//s  in  Ponsett-Haddam 


4.  Cellar  place  of  a  house  built  by  Daniel  Brainerd,  after- 
wards owned  by  James  Spencer  who  kept  a  grocery  in  the  base- 
ment. He  died  in  1839,  and  his  brother  Alanson  Spencer  occupied 
the  house  until  his  death  in  1869.  After  the  death  of  Alanson's 
widow,  in  1883,  the  house  was  demolished.  None  of  the  family  is 
now  left  in  the  place. 


5.  The  site  of  a  grist-mill  built  by  Capt.  Samuel  Hubbard. 
With  much  labor  he  turned  the  water  from  "Great-brook,"  and 
also  from  the  "Salt-peter"  brook,  and  with  both  streams  united, 
had  sufficient  power  to  turn  a  huge  overshot  water  wheel.  The 
mill  was  a  good  thing  for  the  place,  and  a  successful  business  was 
done  here  until  the  death  of  Capt.  Hubbard  in  1826.  The  mill 
aftei'wards  passed  into  other  hands  and  eventually  fell  into  decay. 
It  disappeared  about  1855. 


6,  Here  was  a  dwelling  house  erected  by  Ebenezer  Wilcox, 
who  purchased  the  above  mentioned  mill  property.  The  house  was 
taken  down  about  1868.  Mr.  Wilcox  was  a  shoemaker  and  had  a 
shop  on  the  premises.     See  site  7. 


T.      Shoemaker's    shop,    mentioned    above.      Building   taken 
down  some  fifty  years  ago. 


8.      Site  of  John  Turner's  blacksmith  shop.     Buildings  gone. 


9.  Two  story  dwelling  house  erected  by  Sylvester  Hubbard 
in  1820.  Occupied  by  him  until  his  death  in  1872,  then  by  his  son 
Theodore  until  his  death  in  1896.  House  at  the  present  time 
occupied  b}'  Bohemians. 


By  Gone  Days  in  P onset t-Haddam 


10,     St.  James'  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  cornerstone 
laid  in  1872,  consecrated  in  1877. 


11.  Large  two  story  house  erected  by  Ashael  Bonfoey ;  was 
at  one  time  a  tavern.  Passed  out  of  the  family  in  1853  and  was 
purchased  by  Willard  Knowles.  He,  dying  in  1883,  it  passed  to 
his  son  Hubert  W.  who  died  in  1906.     Now  owned  by  his  children. 


13,  Story  and  a  half  house  erected  by  Hezekiah  Sutlief, 
about  1833.  His  widow  left  it  in  1855  and  the  property  was 
bought  by  Asa  Burr,  Esq.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Burr  it  was 
purchased  by  Wm.  Edgar  Spencer,  who  is  its  present  occupant. 


13.  A  one-story  house  erected  by  Roswell  Sutlief.  He  died 
in  1861.  The  place  has  since  changed  owners  a  number  of  times. 
Mr.  Roman  Berchulsky,  a  Slav,  then  purchased  it. 


14.  A  one-story  house  with  gambrel  roof;  erected  by  Ros- 
well Hubbard.  The  frame  was  raised  at  site  67,  but  the  turnpike 
being  opened  about  that  time  the  frame  was  moved  to  its  pres- 
ent site.  David  T.  Bailey  bought  the  property  and  came  there 
to  live  in  the  fall  of  1835.  He  died  in  1883.  His  son 
Frank  occupied  the  place  until  a  few  years  ago  w^hen  he  sold  out 
to  Bohemians. 


15,  This  is  the  New  Cemetery,  laid  out  in  January,  1828. 
It  is  composed  of  thirty  large  lots.  The  first  person  buried  here 
was  Ursula  Hubbard  Spencer,  wife  of  Abinson  Spencer,  who  died 
February,  1828. 

16,  Small  house  built  and  now  occupied  by  Frederick 
Wilcox. 


8  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 

17.  One-story  house  set  into  a  bank,  making  it  two  stories 
in  front.  Built  by  James  Brainerd.  Sold  to  two  maiden  ladies 
who  lived  here  a  great  many  years.  Now  unoccupied  and  falling 
into  decay. 


18.  Large  two-story  house  erected  by  Capt.  James  Thomas, 
soon  after  the  Turnpike  was  opened.  Was  at  one  time  a  tavern. 
Capt.  Thomas  died  in  1842.  A  few  years  later  his  son-in-law,  Mr. 
Alfred  Brainerd,  came  here  to  live.  The  present  occupant  is  an 
enterprising  Bohemian,  Mr.  Paul  Jiroudek. 


THE  MORRIS   ROAD. 

19.  Here  stood  a  log  cabin.  It  is  not  known  by  whom  built, 
but  Aurunah  Hubbard  once  lived  here.  In  1795  it  was  occupied 
by  widow  Naomi  Gladwin.  The  cabin  disappeared  many  years 
ago  and  the  oldest  inhabitant  has  no  remembrance  of  it. 


V" 


20.  Here  was  the  house  of  Daniel  Hubbard,  son  of  Daniel 
and  Temperance  Hubbard.  Twelve  children  were  reared  here. 
About  1792  the  family  moved  to  New  Durham,  N.  Y.  A  pile  of 
stones  marks  the  place  where  the  house  stood.  The  home  lot  is 
now  overgrown  with  bushes. 


21.  Joel  Hubbard,  an  elder  brother  of  Daniel,  had  a  large 
two-story  house  here  with  a  lean-to.  He  was  the  father  of  twelve 
children,  all,  except  the  first-born,  living  to  adult  age.  Mr.  Hub- 
bard died  in  1802.  His  son  Capt.  Abraham  Hubbard,  succeeded 
to  the  estate.  He  died  in  1822  and  his  son  Edmund  kept  the  place 
for  a  few  years  and  sold  out  to  his  father's  sister  Mary,  commonly 
known  as  "Aunt  Polly."  Late  in  life  she  married  Morris  Hubbard 
and  he  came  here  to  live.  "Aunt  Polly"  died  in  1850.  The  house 
was  demolished  by  Chauncey  D.  Skinner  in  1855. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  9 

23.  Here  was  a  house  but  it  seems  impossible,  at  this  late 
day,  to  find  out  who  lived  in  it.  It  might  have  been  the  home  of 
Abner  Smith.  The  house  w-as  standing  when  "Aunt  Polly"  was  a 
child.  The  home  lot  has  been  known  for  many  years  as  the  "Capt. 
Brainerd  lot." 


THE   NEW    ROAD. 

33.     A  depression  in  the  ground  shows  where  once  stood  the 
house  of  Ephraim  Spencer,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  place. 


ROAD  TO   HADDAM. 


34.  Who  the  original  owner  of  this  place  was  is  not  known. 
About  1812  Betty  Clark  and  her  children  were  living  here.  Some- 
where prior  to  1820  Hazacl  Smith  caused  the  house  to  be  removed 
to  site  30. 


25.  The  home  of  Richard  Knowles  which  his  father  Lieut. 
John  Knowles  willed  to  him  in  1752.  A  family  of  twelve  children 
were  reared  here.  After  the  death  of  Richard  Knowles,  in  1814, 
the  property  passed  out  of  the  family  and  the  house  was  taken 
down. 


26.  A  one-story  house  built  by  Richard  Knowles  2nd,  not 
far  from  1790.  After  the  death  of  his  wife,  in  1819,  Mr.  Knowles 
sold  the  place  to  Elizur  Spencer.  It  remained  in  the  Spencer 
family  until  1864.  The  house  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
Oscar  F,  Richards. 


10  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-H addarn 

37,  Here  is  left  a  portion  of  the  old  village-green.  It  was 
formerly  a  triangular  plot  very  much  larger  than  at  present.  The 
old  Militia  used  to  "train"  here.  On  this  green  stood  the  Chestnut- 
Hill  School  House,  which,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  years  ago 
must  have  been  well  filled  with  scholars.  Harris  E.  Knowles  has  in 
his  possession  a  receipt  given  by  Elisha  Knowles,  Jr..  to  Richard 
Knowles,  for  the  sum  of  12s  6d,  for  the  use  of  the  school,  in  the 
last  half  of  the  18th  century. 


38.  This  house  was  originally  owned  by  Asa  Walkley,  a 
house-carpenter  by  trade.  He  was  killed  by  lightning  while  sitting 
by  the  side  window  of  the  east  front  room.  The  exact  date  of  his 
death  cannot  be  ascertained,  but  it  occurred  not  far  from  1801. 
The  widow  remained  here  a  few  years  after  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band, when  the  property  was  purchased  by  Simeon  Hubbard  who 
sold  to  his  nephew  Epaphroditus  Hubbard  about  1839,  the  latter 
remaining  here  until  his  death  in  1895.  The  property  was  then  pur- 
chased by  William  C.  Knowles  who  sold  it  to  his  son-in-law,  Edwin 
W.  Dickinson.  It  is  now  owned  by  Joseph  Planata  and  brother. 
The  house  was  originally  but  one  story.  Mr.  Epaphroditus  Hub- 
bard raised  it,  putting  another  story  under  the  old  building.  The 
upper  story  is  supposed  to  be  the  oldest  house  in  Ponsett. 


39,  A  two-story  house  with  a  lean-to.  A  typical  New  Eng- 
land farm-house,  built  by  William  Knowles  and  his  sons  John  and 
Willard  about  1796.  William  Knowles  died  in  1820,  leaving  his 
estate  by  will  to  his  grand-children,  William,  Zeruiah  and  John 
H.  Knowles,  his  son  John  to  have  the  use  of  it  during  the  term  of 
his  natural  life.  John  Knowles  died  in  1836.  John  H.  Knowles, 
who  far  many  years  was  a  sea-faring  man  returned  to  his  home 
in  1837  and  lived  here  until  his  death  in  1870.  His  widow  occu- 
pied the  house  until  her  decease  in  1897.  It  is  now  the  property 
of  William  C.  Knowles  and  is  occupied  by  his  son  John  C.  Knowles. 
The  farm  has  been  in  the  possession  of  the  family  for  about  one 
hundred  and  sixty-four  years. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  11 

30.  Hazael  Smith  once  had  a  house  here.  It  was  for  his 
hired  man,  Timothy  Jackson,  a  negro.  The  house,  which  was 
originall}'^  site  24  has  long  since  disappeared. 


31.  The  site  of  the  ancient  Knowles  house,  Lieut.  John 
Knowles,  in  company  with  others,  removed  from  Eastham,  Mass., 
and  settled  here  about  1742.  He  became  an  extensive  land-holder, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1752,  left  large  farms  to  his  three 
sons  Elisha,  Richard  and  William.  A  copy  of  his  will  is  printed 
elsewhere. 


33.  On  the  map  are  marks  for  two  houses.  The  one  the 
greater  distance  from  the  road  line  was  the  house  of  Elisha 
Knowles,  son  of  Lieut.  John  Knowles.  He  died  in  1801.  His  son 
Joshua  became  his  successor.  Hazael  Smith  purchased  the  prop- 
erty, and  about  1810  built  a  new  house  which  he  occupied  until 
his  death  in  1866.  His  son  Davis  Smith  remained  there  until 
1872.  The  property  has  since  then  changed  hands  several  times 
and  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  John  Novotny. 


33.  Here  stood  a  house  built  by  Irwin  W.  Smith,  who  moved 
to  Pennsylvania  in  the  early  Forties.  His  brother-in-law,  Benjamin 
S.  Bailey,  purchased  the  property.  Mr.  Bailey  died  in  1849. 
His  widow  remained  here  until  1856.  Comfort  J.  Treat  lived  here 
a  number  of  years.  Finally  the  property  was  bought  by  Leroy  S. 
Burdick.  In  1867  he  sold  the  house  to  Lyman  Bailey  who  caused 
it  to  be  removed  to  Higganum. 


^  34.     About  1742  Roger  Thomas,  who  came  from  Eastham, 

Mass.,  settled  here.     After  his  death  his  son  Ebenezer  remained 
here  and  built  site  35. 


12  Bi)  Gone  Daj/s  in  Pousett-Haddam 

35,  This  house  was  built  close  to  the  old  one — site  Ji4. 
Calvin  Thomas,  son  of  Ebenezer,  remained  on  the  place.  He  died 
in  1847.  The  land  was  sold  to  Joseph  R.  Shailer.  The  house  was 
bought  bj  Benjamin  S.  Baile^^  and  moved  on  to  his  near  by  prem- 
ises and  used  for  a  barn.  Mrs.  Thomas,  who  was  Mr.  Bailey's 
mother-in-law^,  reserved  one  front  room  for  a  weaving  room.  Here 
was  her  loom  and  all  her  appliances  for  weaving  cloth  and  carpets. 
She  died  in  Norwich  in  1866. 


30,  The  site  of  a  house  built  by  Ebenezer  Thomas,  Jr.  His 
son  Ansel  remained  here  until  the  early  thirties  when  he  sold  to 
Capt.  Sylvester  Brainerd.  Capt.  Brainerd  died  in  1843.  His 
widow  remained  here  many  years  with  her  son  Benjamin,  who  mar- 
ried and  reared  a  family.  The  property  having  finally  passed  into 
other  hands,  the  house  fell  into  decay  and  has  now  disappeared. 


THE      DENCE  PLACE. 

3T.  This  place  derives  its  name  from  Prudence,  otherwise 
called  "Dence,"  the  wudow  of  Abram  Simons,  a  Narragansett 
Indian.  When  or  by  whom  the  house  was  erected  is  not  known. 
Abram  was  here  a  century  ago.  He  died  in  1812.  A  further  ac- 
count of  him  will  be  given  elsewhere. 


DISH  MILL  HOLLOW. 

38,  Here  is  the  site  of  the  Elizur  Spencer  house  which  was  a 
very  old  one  one  hundred  years  ago.  Who  built  it  or  lived  in  it, 
previous  to  its  occupancy  by  Mr.  Spencer,  is  not  known.  It  might 
have  been  the  home  of  Ferguson  the  turner  instead  of  site  2.  Pos- 
sibly it  was  once  owned  by  Ebenezer  Mudge.  The  house  has  been 
gone  many  years. 


By  Gone  Bays  in  Ponsett-Haddam  13 

39.  Garden  of  Eden.  This  is  a  narrow  strip  of  land  en- 
closed by  surrounding  hills  and  at  one  time  lovely  in  its  seclusion. 
It  is  now  overgrown  with  forest  and  a  home  for  wild  animals. 


40.  House  built  by  David  Spencer,  son  of  Elizur  Spencer 
and  occupied  by  him  until  about  1848 ;  then  by  Felix  Spencer  until 
his  death  in  1878.  Tlic  place  is  at  present  owned  and  occupied  by 
foreigners. 


OLD    PONSETT   STREET. 

41.  This  old  house  was  the  home  of  James  Sutlief.  He  died 
in  1835,  and  Jonathan  P.  Spencer  lived  here  a  number  of  years. 
After  him  came  Henry  Hubbard.  The  place  was  purchased  by 
Alvah  W.  Spencer  about  1852.  He  lived  here  until  his  death  in 
1899.  His  son  disposed  of  the  property  and  it  is  now  the  home 
of  John  Planata.  On  June  19,  1906,  the  house  caught  fire  and 
was  reduced  to  ashes. 


43.  The  Ponsett  School  House  stood  on  this  spot,  Chestnut 
Hill  having  united  with  Ponsett  in  causing  its  erection.  It  was  a 
one-story  building  nearly  square  on  the  ground.  It  had  a  stone 
chimney  with  a  huge  open  fire  place,  which  was  used  for  heating  the 
school  room  until  the  introduction  of  a  box  stove,  when  the  stone 
chimney  was  taken  away.  At  the  east  end  of  the  building  was  a 
large  rock,  which  for  some  reason  or  other  it  was  thought  best  to 
remove.  Accordingly,  there  was  a  general  "turn  out"  of  the  men 
in  the  district,  to  demolish  the  rock,  which  was  done  in  a  manner 
satisfactory  to  themselves,  perhaps,  and  an  offset  built  of  the 
broken  pieces,  which  still  remains.  Why  it  should  have  been  called 
an  "improvement,"  the  writer  is  at  a  loss  to  know.  When  the  rock 
was  demolished  a  kit  of  Indian  tools  was  found  hidden  beneath  it- 
After  the  consolidation  of  Ponsett  and  Little  City  districts  the 
School  House  was  taken  down. 


14  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 

43.  Here  stood  the  house  of  Jeremiah  Hubbard.  As  the 
writer  remembers,  it  was  a  two-story  house  with  a  lean-to  across 
the  east  end.  The  house  was  very  old  and  in  a  dilapidated  con- 
dition when  taken  down  in  1849.  Mr.  Hubbard  died  in  1803.  His 
widow  survived  him  seven  years,  dying  at  the  advanced  age  of 
95.  She  was  the  second  wife,  and  not  the  mother  of  his  children, 
three  of  whom,  singular  to  relate,  were  born  blind,  Asa,  Susannah, 
and  Catherine.  Deacon  David  Hubbard  succeeded  his  father  in  the 
estate  and  lived  here  until  his  death  in  1836.  His  son  David  suc- 
ceeded him. 


44.  This  is  a  large  four- roofed  house  built  by  Cyrus  A. 
Hubbard  in  1849.  At  the  time  of  its  erection  it  was  considered 
by  far  the  grandest  house  in  Ponsett.  Mr.  David  Hubbard  and 
family  were  its  first  occupants,  together  with  his  three  maiden 
sisters,  Miriam,  Rhoda,  and  Hadassah.  The  old  ladies  wept  as 
they  left  the  old  house  for  the  new  one.  Mr.  Cyrus  Hubbard  came 
here  to  live  sometime  after  the  death  of  his  father  in  187*2.  A 
bachelor  brother  and  widowed  sister,  Mrs.  Ashley  of  worthy  mem- 
ory, also  lived  and  died  here.  Cyrus  A.  Hubbard  died  here  in  1900. 
His  widow  moved  away,  and  the  place  is  now  owned  by  a  Bohemian 
family. 


45.  A  New  England  farm  house  built  by  Shailer  Hubbard. 
After  his  death  in  1832,  his  son  Sylvester  succeeded  him.  Syl- 
vester Hubbard  died  in  1864.  Cyrus  A.  Hubbard  purchased  the 
property,  remodeled  the  house  into  its  present  style,  lived  here  a 
number  of  years  and  finally  moved  to  site  44.  George  D.  Winchcll 
purchased  the  property  and  lived  here  a  few  years.  The  place 
is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Horocek,  a  Bohemian. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  15 

46.  Here  stands  a  horse  barn  built  by  Cyrus  A.  Hubbard, 
said  at  one  time  to  have  been  the  finest  building  of  its  kind  in  New- 
England.  It  is  supposed  to  stand  on,  or  near,  the  site  of  the  first 
Hubbard  house,  where  lived  Daniel  Hubbard,  the  progenitor  of 
the  Ponsett  Hubbard  family  and  one  of  the  largest  land-holders 
in_  the  place.  There  is  a  question,  however,  whether  this  is  the 
true  site  of  the  old  house  or  site  V( .  Daniel  Hubbard  died  in 
1755  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Daniel,  who  became  the  father 
of  nine  sons,  eight  of  them  marrying  and  settling  in  the  place  and 
each  rearing  a  large  family.  It  is  remarkable  that  at  the  present 
time  there  are  none  in  Ponsett  who  bear  the  name  of  Hubbard. 
That  this  is  where  Daniel  2nd  lived,  seems  the  more  probable,  as 
Dr.  Field,  in  his  history  of  the  Hubbard  family,  says  that  Daniel 
Hubbard's  house  "stood  near  where  his  descendant  Sylvester  Hub- 
/  bard  now  lives,"  which  is  site  4<5,  and  according  to  tradition  the 
uTi//  coffin  of  Temperance,  the  widow  of  Daniel  Hubbard  2nd,  was  laid, 
*^  probably  at  the  time  of  her  funeral,  on  the  rock  at  the  south,  on 
which  rests  a  large  boulder.  A  copy  of  the  last  will  and  testament 
of  Daniel  Hubbard  appears  later  on. 


47.  Here  is  a  hollow  in  the  ground,  evidently,  where  once 
was  a  cellar.  The  writer  was  told  when  a  boy,  that  here  stood  a 
Hubbard  house.  Probably  the  home  at  one  time  of  one  of  the 
Daniels. 


48.  The  Eunice  Sutlief  place.  Miss  Eunice  lived  here 
alone  for  a  great  many  years.  She  was  noted  for  her  skill  in 
weaving  linen  and  woolen  cloths,  coverlets  and  carpets.  She  died 
in  1844  at  an  advanced  age.  In  her  last  days  she  was  cared  for 
by  her  nephew  Hezekiah  Sutlief,  at  whose  house  she  died.  It  is 
thought  that  she  inherited  her  home  from  her  father  Nathaniel 
Sutlief.    The  house  was  removed  soon  after  her  decease. 


16  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-H addam 

49.  Here  are  the  remains  of  the  liousc  of  Jeremiah  Hub- 
bard 2nd,  commonly  called  "Captain  Jeremiah."  The  building  was 
a  New  England  farm  house,  finished  off  in  rather  better  style  than 
most  houses  of  that  day.  Captain  Hubbard  moved  to  Middle- 
town  "Upper  Houses,"  now  Cromwell,  in  1793.  The  liouse  passed 
into  the  Spencer  family  and,  for  many  years,  was  occupied  at 
intervals  by  different  families.  Betty  Clark  and  her  children  at 
one  time  made  their  home  there.  Various  newly  married  couples 
set  up  house-keeping  here  until  such  time  as  their  own  houses 
could  he  built  and  made  ready  for  occupancy.  About  1852  or  '53 
the  place  was  sold  by  Albert  Spencer  to  Dr.  Samuel  Thomas 
Hubbard  of  New  York,  who  for  a  time  used  it  as  a  summer  resi- 
dence. It  finally  passed  into  other  hands  and  was  suffered  to  fall 
into  decay. 


50.  This  house  was  built  by  Thomas  Hubbard  2nd,  between 
1795  and  1800.  Mr.  Hubbard  died  in  1803,  his  son  Amasa  Hub- 
bard succeeded  to  the  estate,  living  here  until  his  death  in  1864. 
Alburn  C.  Hubbard,  the  youngest  son  of  Amasa  Hubbard,  occupied 
the  house  with  his  father.  He  died  in  April,  1864.  His  widow 
and  family  removed  to  Meriden  in  1880.  The  place  was  soon 
after  sold  and  at  present  is  owned  by  Bohemians.  The  house  is 
of  the  old  New  England  style,  two  stories  in  front,  the  back  having 
a  long  sloping  roof  with  lean-to.     There  is  also  a  large  basement. 

51.  Here  stood  the  house  of  Thomas  Hubbard  1st.  He  died 
in  1795  and  after  the  erection  of  the  new  house,  site  50,  the  old 
house  was  moved  a  few  rods  south  and  used  for  nearly  a  century 
as  a  cow-shed. 


52.  It  was  here  that  the  first  schoolhouse  in  Ponsett  was 
erected  near  a  large  rock.  After  doing  service  for  many  years, 
Chestnut  Hill  united  with  Ponsett  and  built  on  site  42. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  17 

53.  Large  New  England  farm  house,  once  the  home  of 
Capt.  David  Spencer,  wlio  died  here  in  1850  at  an  advanced  age. 
His  son  David  and  daughter  Damaris,  both  single,  lived  here  for 
many  years  after  the  death  of  their  father.  The  place  is  at 
present  owned  and  occupied  by  Mrs.  Louis  Florence,  a  French 
woman.     The  house  is  in  excellent  condition. 


54.  Story-and-a-half  house  built  by  Atwood  Spencer  in  the 
early  Forties,  over  the  cellar  of  a  house  which  was  burned,  and  was 
formerly  the  home  of  Sergeant  Abner  Spencer,  who  died  in  1802. 
Atwood  Spencer  died  in  1852.  His  widow  remained  here  for  a 
number  of  years.  Mrs.  Wilcox,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Spencer  has 
lately  sold  the  place  to  a  Bohemian  family.  Mention  might  be 
made  that  between  80  and  90  years  ago  Jehosaphat  Spencer  had  a 
store  here  and  dealt  in  general  merchandise. 

ANCIEXT   HIGHWAY   TO    HIGGANUM. 

55.  This  is  the  Sutlief  Place.  The  house  has  been  gone, 
probably  for  a  century  and  a  half  or  more.  The  highway  has  long 
since  been  abandoned  and  the  farm  has  become  a  forest. 


OLD    ROAD   TO    CANDLEWOOD    HILL. 

56.  The  site  of  Calvin  Hubbard's  house.  He  died  in  1820 
and  after  the  death  of  his  widow  their  son  Joshua  Hubbard  lived 
here.     The  house  was  finally  deserted  and  fell  into  decay. 


THE    GUNGER    ROAD. 

57.  The  cellar  and  foundation  of  the  chimney  alone  remain 
to  mark  the  home  of  Timothy  Hubbard.  After  his  death  in  1809 
his  son  Ashael  succeeded  him.  Ashael  died  in  1842.  A  few  years 
later  Joshua  Hubbard  purchased  the  property  and  lived  here  until 
his  death  in  1866.  The  old  house  was  soon  afterwards  taken 
down. 


18  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 

58.  A  small  house  built  by  Lloyd  A.  Wood  in  the  early 
Fifties.  The  Wood  family  have  moved  away  and  the  place  is  now- 
owned  by  Mr.  Biza. 


59.  The  Eli  Hubbard  house.  Mr.  Hubbard  died  in  1817. 
Alanson  Spencer  who  married  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Hubbard  lived 
here  for  a  few  years.  The  property  was  finally  purchased  b}' 
Stephen  Clark.  After  Mr.  Clark's  death  his  son-in-law  Robert 
Brainerd  took  possession  of  the  property  and  he  occupies  the 
house  at  the  present  time. 


60.     A  small  cottage  built  by  Robert  Brainerd  and  occu- 
pied by  him  until  his  removal  to  site  59. 


61.      Site  of  the  house  of  Aaron  Hubbard.    The  family  moved 
to  Rockland  in  Nortli  Bristol,  now  North  Madison,  about  1792. 


62,  Site  of  the  home  of  James  Hubbard;  a  large  New 
England  farm-house  which  stood  on  a  high  elevation,  commanding 
a  magnificent  view  of  the  Ponsett  Valley.  On  the  east  the  view  ex- 
tends for  miles  beyond  the  Connecticut  River,  while  on  the  west 
the  Meriden  Mountains  are  seen  in  the  distance.  Mr.  Hubbard  died 
in  1808,  and  the  family  moved  to  J^ew,  Durhairi,  Some  years 
later  the  property  was  purchased  by  Fredus  Clark  who  lived 
here  until  his  death  in  1864.  Some  few  years  after  the  death  of 
Mr.  Clark  the  house  was  struck  by  lightning  and  all  the  buildings 
were  consumed. 


63,     A   small   house   built   by    Henry    Lee,    a    grandson    of 
Fredus  Clark.     The  place  is  now  owned  by  Bohemians. 


Bif  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  19 

THE    OLD    POXD    ROAl). 

64.  A  one  story  house  with  gambrel  roof  stood  very  near  the 
dam.  In  the  basement  was  a  fulling  mill,  or  clothiers  works, 
where  Asahel  Bonfoey  carried  on  quite  a  flourishing  business  for 
many  years.  On  the  west  side  of  the  pond  is  the  lot  where  the 
teasles  grew.  With  the  influx  of  cotton  and  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  cloth  by  machinery,  the  fulling  of  home-spun  cloth  was 
abandoned.  Mr.  Bonfoey  built  house  at  site  11  and  left  this  place, 
which  afterwards  was  occupied  at  different  times,  by  Albert 
Thomas,  Hoel  Bowers,  and  by  a  Mr.  Lantry.  The  house  was  taken 
down  by  Roswell  Sutlief  in  184*7. 


65.  Here  stood  a  large  Colonial  house  originally  owned  by 
Samuel  Spencer.  After  his  death  his  widow  was  married  July 
27,  1778,  to  Doctor  Eleazer  Woodruff,  who  took  up  his  residence 
here  as  a  practicing  physician.  According  to  tradition,  he  had  a 
negro  slave  who  was  buried  on  the  highway,  on  the  north  side  of 
the  New  Road  and  as  the  bank  wore  away  his  bones  fell  into  the 
gutter.  Dr.  Woodruff  dying  or  moving  elsewhere,  the  property 
was  purchased  by  Captain  Samuel  Hubbard.  Mr.  Hubbard  was  a 
very  enterprising  man  in  the  place.  He  built  the  grist  mill  site  5. 
He  died  in  1826.  His  estate  passed  out  of  the  family  and  the 
grand  old  house  was  taken  down. 

66.  Here  was  a  Spencer  place  and  ancient  tavern,  once 
the  home  of  Capt.  Abraham  Spencer.  After  the  death  of  Capt. 
Spencer  it  became  the  home  of  Ruel  Knowlcs,  later  of  Daniel 
Knowles,  and  lastly  of  Roswell  and  Hezekiah  Sutlief.  The  Sut- 
lief s,  on  erecting  new  houses  (see  sites  12-13)  demolished  the  old 
houses.  Naught  but  the  well  remains  to  tell  that  a  dwelling  house 
once  stood  here.  The  place  was  sometimes  called  the  Pine-Tree 
place.  A  lofty  pine  tree  once  stood  near  the  house,  the  stump  of 
which  was  remaining  a  few  years  ago. 


20  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-H adda?n 

ROAD    TO    GOOSK    MILL. 

67.  Here  is  the  site  of  an  ancient  Porter  place.  By  whom 
Hie  house  was  built  cannot  be  learned.  About  1785  a  Mr.  Porter 
lived  here.  He  was  either  lost  at  sea  or  died  on  board  a  vessel 
when  a  young  man.  His  widow  married  Walker  Knowles.  The 
property  was  purchased  by  Roswell  Hubbard  who  caused  the  old 
house  to  be  taken  down.  He  afterward  erected  the  frame  of  a  new 
building  over  the  old  cellar,  but  the  turnpike  being  opened  about 
that  time,  he  had  the  frame  carried  across  the  lot  and  put  up  and 
covered  in  another  place.     See  site  14. 


68.  House  erected  in  1850  by  James  S.  Thomas.  He  died 
in  1893.  The  house  is  now  occupied  by  two  of  his  daughters,  Mrs. 
Olive  B.  Mooney  and  Miss  Emily  E.  Thomas. 


69.  Site  of  a  large  two  story  house  with  lean-to,  once  the 
residence  of  Samuel  Hubbard,  third  son  of  Daniel  and  Temper- 
ance Hubbard.  Mr.  Hubbard  commanded  a  company  of  militia 
in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  died  in  1813.  His  son,  Smith  Hub- 
bard, succeeded  to  the  estate.  Smith  Hubbard  died  in  1844  and  the 
estate  became  the  property  of  James  S.  Thomas.  The  house  was 
taken  down  in  1849  and  a  ncAv  one  built.     See  site  68. 


70.     This  sacred  enclosure  is  known  as    the    Old    Ponsett 
burying  ground.     It  was  laid  out  in  1761. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  21 

The  three  oldest  inscriptions  found  there  are  the  following, 
that  of  the  first  being  misspelled  Portor  for  Porter: 

Ix  Memory  of 
M8S.  Naomi  the 

Wife  of  MK- 

Giles  Portor 

Who  died  June 

the  18th-  1762 

In  the  43D  Year 

of  her  Age. 


In  Memory  of 

MK-  Michael 

Clark 

Who  died 

Nov't>r  the  11th 

A  D  1763 

In  the  50tli 

Year  of  his 

Affe. 


In  Memory  of 

MKS.  Anne 

the  Wife  of 

M^-  Samuel 

Spencer 

Who  died  Fehr>' 

2ist  1769  In  the 

19th  Year  of 

her  Age. 


22  By  Gone  Daifs  in  Ponsett-H addam 

Tl,  Said  by  some  to  have  been  the  house  place  of  one 
Porter,  an  early  settler.  Others  maintain  that  a  dwelling  house 
never  stood  here  because  there  are  no  marks  of  a  cellar  or  chim- 
ney. The  writer,  however,  is  of  the  opinion  that  here  is  the  site 
of  an  ancient  cabin. 


73,  Originally  a  Thomas  place.  The  first  house  was  burnt 
and  another  of  one  story,  was  erected  over  the  cellar.  The  last  of 
the  Thomas  family  to  live  here  was  Mary,  the  widow  of  Israel 
Thomas.  Felix  Spencer  occupied  the  house  for  many  years.  He 
moved  to  site  40  and  his  son  Jonathan  P.  Spencer  took  his  place. 
He  there  lived  until  about  1875.    The  building  has  disappeared. 


73.  Who  originally  owned  this  place  is  unknown.  Frederic 
Piatt,  a  young  man,  and  son-in-law  of  Joel  Hubbard,  is  said  to 
have  died  here  not  far  from  1790.  Hazael  Smith  was  living  here 
in  1802.  The  house,  probably  disappeared  in  the  Twenties.  Ben- 
jamin F.  Spencer  built  the  present  house  in  1873  over  the  ancient 
cellar.  Mr.  Spencer  occupied  the  house  a  short  time  and  moved 
to  Higganum.  His  father  Jonathan  P.  Spencer  left  site  72  and 
lived  here  until  his  death  in  1898.  Alvin  B.  Spencer  is  its  present 
occupant. 


THE    LYNN    ROAD. 

74.  Once  the  home  of  Capt.  James  Thomas.  After  he 
nioved  into  his  new  house,  site  18,  this  one  was  occupied  by  various 
families,  ^^z.,  Charles  Bailey,  Capt.  Sylvester  Brainerd,  Hoel 
Bowers,  Willard  Knowles,  Joseph  Treat  and  perhaps  others.  The 
house  went  down  in  the  Fifties. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  23 

75.  Here  was  the  home  of  Walker  Knowles.  The  house  was 
built  about  the  time  of  his  marriage  to  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth 
Wells,  in  1784.  His  youngest  son  Willard  Knowles  succeeded  his 
father,  and  remained  here  until  1853  when  he  moved  to  site  11. 
The  house  remained  unoccupied  a  few  years  and  was  then  taken 
down.     The  once  productive  farm  is  now  overgrown  with  forest. 

[The  site  of  this  house  was  on  the  west  side  of  the  road,  and 
not  on  the  east  side  as  inadvertently  located  on  the  map.] 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

A.     Site  of  the  blacksmith  shop  of  Capt.  David  Spencer. 


B.  The  site  of  the  house  of  Job  Hubbard  Senior  who  died 
in  1822.  The  old  house  was  demolished  about  1853  having  been 
unoccupied  for  some  years. 

C.  The  new  Ponsett  School  House,  following  the  consolida- 
tion of  the  Ponsett  and  Little  City  districts.  The  building  stands 
on,  or  very  near  the  line  which  formerly  divided  the  two  districts. 

D.  A  one-story  house  built  by  Job  Hubbard  Jr.  He  died  in 
1853.  His  son  Joseph  B.  Hubbard  lived  here  until  his  death  in 
1872  or  1873.  This  is  the  birth  place  of  Rev.  D.  B.  Hubbard. 
Euzebe  Florence,  a  Frenchman,  purchased  the  property  and  lived 
here  for  a  number  of  years  and  sold  it  to  Mr.  Snyder,  a  German. 

E.  Little  Dam,  to  enclose  a  small  body  of  water  for  the  use 
of  Capt.  Hubbard's  Mill. 

F.  A  huge  boulder.  It  is  said  that  many  years  ago  nearly 
all  the  able-bodied  men  in  Ponsett  turned  out  to  try  their  strength 
in  starting  this  rock  rolling;  but  neither  rum  nor  muscle  were 
sufficient  to  so  much  as  make  it  "wink." 


24  Bij  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 

G.  The  old  Pond.  A  dam  was  built  here  at  a  very  earl}-- 
date,  though  for  what  particular  purpose  cannot  be  ascertained. 
Some  have  thought  a  grist  mill  was  erected  here  by  the  early 
settlers.  Later,  the  water  from  the  pond  Avas  used  in  the  clothiers 
works.  In  1847  the  dam  was  raised  a  number  of  feet  higher  and 
the  water  supply  used  as  a  reservoir  for  the  Oakum  works  at 
Higganum. 


H.     Remains  of  ancient  saw  mill  dam. 


I.     Bridffe  across  Great  Brook. 


J.  The  flume  for  Capt.  Sanuel  Hubbard's  grist  mill.  The 
waters  from  the  Great  brook  and  the  Salt  Peter  brook  being  turned, 
met  here  and  formed,  as  the  boys  used  to  say,  "a  pond  on  dry 

land." 


K.     Dish  Mill  Falls,  and  probably  the  site    of    Ferguson's 
Turning  Mill.     No  trace  of  it  remains. 


c 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  2/5 


A    GALAXY    OF    OLD    FOLKS. 

We  record  here  some  who  lived  to  a  good  old  age — all  reach- 
ing four  score  and  beyond  : 

Hazael  Smith,  commonly  called  "Uncle  Zell,"  lived  to  be  92 
and  died  in  1866.  He  was  always  ready  to  talk  to  the  boys  and 
boast  of  his  youthful  exploits.  He  liked  tobacco  and  chewed  cut 
plug. 

Lusina  Hubbard  Richards,  wife  of  Jehiel  Richards,  well 
known  as  "Aunt  Lusina,"  passed  away  in  1892  at  the  ripe  old 
age  of  88  years.  Two  generations  united  to  pay  respect  to  her 
memory. 

Captain  James  Thomas,  a  hale  hearty  old  man.  Died  in  1842 
at  the  age  of  89. 

Calvin  Thomas,  a  feeble  old  man,  died  in  1847.  He  was  the 
last  person  buried  in  the  Old  Cemetery. 

James  S.  Thomas,  a  grandson  of  Capt.  James  Thomas,  died 
in  1893  aged  89  years. 

Captain  David  Spencer,  died  in  1850  aged  85  years. 

There  were  two  Sylvester  Hubbards  born  the  same  j^ear.  One 
died  in  1864  aged  80,  the  other  in  1872  aged  88. 

Willard  Knowles,  died  in  1883  aged  81,  and  Minerva,  his  wife, 
in  1888  aged  81. 

Jehiel  Richards,  died  in  1889  aged  81 .  He  was  carried  to 
Haddam  for  burial. 

David  Hubbard,  died  in  1872  aged  82  years  and  Julia,  his 
wife  in  1878  aged  85.  He  was  a  son  of  Deacon  David  Hubbard, 
who  died  in  1836,  and  may  be  remembered  by  some  elderly  people. 


26  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-H addam 

Jonathan  T.  Spencer,  died  in  1898  aged  83. 

Epaphroditus  Hubbard,  died  in  1895  aged  83  3'ears.  He 
was  a  life-long  resident  of  Ponsett. 

Cyrus  A.  Hubbard  died  in  1900  aged  83  years. 

We  will  here  mention  Mr.  Roswell  Sutlief,  although  he  did 
not  reach  four  score  years.  He  was  a  veteran  of  the  war  of  1812. 
What  pleasure  it  gave  him  to  relate  his  experiences  as  a  "war- 
rior" !  He  was  quite  a  "songster"  and  usually  interspersed  his 
story  with  some  fragment  of  an  old  song,  something  like  this : 

"On  yonder  high  mountain 
There  shines  a  bright  light, 

'Tis  a  pilot  for  sailors 
In  the  dark  stormy  night." 
I'm  an  old  warrior,  I  van !     Was  called  to  Saybrook  to  fight 
the  British  and  slept  on  the  salt  hay,  I  van ! 
Day  do  de  day,  do  de  day,  do  de  day, 
I  van !  I  been  in  the  war ! 

Mr.  Job  Hubbard,  a  saintly  old  man,  died  in  1853,  aged  four 
score  years.  He  often  officiated  at  funerals  when  the  services 
of  a  minister  could  not  be  procured. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  27 


UNFORGOTTEN    WORTHIES. 

We  regret  that  so  little  information  can  be  obtained  of  Deacon 
David  Hubbard.  We  know  that  he  was  a  life-long  resident  of 
Ponsett,  that  he  held  the  office  of  Deacon  in  the  Haddam  Congre- 
gational Church  for  many  years  and  was  a  man  of  exemplary 
character.  His  piety  was  of  the  Puritanic  type,  singularly  de- 
voted to  the  doctrines  of  his  church,  and  with  little  charity  for 
those  who  differed  from  him  in  religious  matters.  But,  withal,  he 
was  sincere  and  earnest  in  his  zeal  for  his  Master.  He  died  in 
1836,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  87  years.  Captain  Elmer  Wilcox 
Hubbard  of  the  regular  United  States  Army,  and  a  great-grand- 
son of  Captain  Jeremiah  Hubbard,  a  brother  of  the  above  men- 
tioned Deacon  David  Hubbard,  has  in  his  possession  a  Military 
Commission  dated  1781  and  signed  by  Gov.  Jonathan  Trumbull 
appointing  Jeremiah  Hubbard  Captain. 

The  following  are  copied  from  the  Upper  Middletown,  now 
Cromwell,  Congregational  Church  Records. 

"1794.  Jeremiah  Hubbard  and  his  wife  are  Recommended 
to  our  Communion  and  accepted  from  the  C.h.h.  of  Ch.st  in 
Haddam." 

"At  a  Ch.h  meeting  at  the  Meeting  House  Oct.  5,  1797,  Dea. 
Timy.  Gipson,  Dea'n  Amos  Sage,  and  Capt.  Jeremiah  Hubbard 
were  chosen  a  Ch.h  Committee  to  Converse  with  those  who  walk 
disorderly,  whether  Ch.h  Members.  That  is  to  say  Communicants, 
Covenant  Persons,  who  do  not  come  to  the  Lord's  Table,  but  claim 
a  Right  to  Baptism  for  their  children." 

"At  a  Ch.h  meeting  at  the  Meeting  House  Dec.  14th,  1807 
the  Brethren  made  choice  of  Capt.  Jeremiah  Hubbard  to  officiate 
in  the  office  of  a  Deacon  by  a  unanimous  vote." 


28  Bif  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Iladdain 

HEZEKIAH  SUTLIEF. 

He  was  an  ardent  Methodist  of  the  olden  type,  zealous  in  tke 
Master's  service  and  always  ready,  in  the  absence  of  a  Minister, 
to  offer  prayer  by  the  bedside  of  the  sick  and  suffering.  He  died 
in  1858  aged  69. 

SHERMAN    H.    THOMAS. 

A  native  of  this  place,  he  filled  the  office  of  deacon  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  in  Collinsville  from  1875  to  1879.  He  was 
again  elected  to  the  same  office,  in  1885,  which  he  held  until  his 
death  in  1891.  A  zealous  and  devoted  servant  of  his  Master,  he 
died  in  his  63rd  year. 

WILLIAM   KNOWLES. 

He  died  in  1821  at  the  early  age  of  23,  a  young  man  of  deep 
and  fervent  piety,  and  member  of  the  Haddam  Congregational 
Church.  In  February  1820  he  married  Miss  Lovina  Alcox,  now 
Alcott,  of  Wolcott.  In  the  Fall  of  that  year  the  young  couple 
set  up  housekeeping  in  his  grandfather's  house  in  Ponsett.  The 
January  following  he  was  seized  with  a  fever  and  died.  The  widow 
returned  to  her  father's  house  in  Wolcott  where  she  died  the  1st 
day  of  March  following,  aged  20.  A  few  of  William  Knowles' 
letters  to  his  sister  Zeruiah,  which  breathe  the  spirit  of  a  true 
piety,  are  still  extant.  His  rigid  manner  of  life,  however,  would 
hardly  be  followed  by  the  young  disciple  of  the  present  day.  The 
elders  would  be  slow  to  recommend  it  and  it  Avould  not  now  be 
considered  a  sign  of  a  healthy  religious  life.  Even  to  play  a 
game  of  ball  was  considered  by  young  Knowles  as  sinful.  But 
with  all  his  Puritanic  notions  we  never  heard  of  any  religious 
controversy  between  him  and  his  young  wife  who  was  an  Episco- 
palian. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  29 

JOHN  H.  KNOWLES. 

For  many  years  he  was  a  seafaring  man,  going  on  his  first 
voyage  about  1822,  and  following  the  water  until  the  spring  of 
1837.  During  that  time  he  visited  the  four  quarters  of  the  globe. 
He  died  in  1870  aged  66. 

MISS    EUNICE    SUTLIEF. 

A  passing  tribute  should  be  paid  to  her  memory.  Undoubt- 
edly there  could  still  be  found  at  this  late  day  some  specimens  of 
her  handiwork,  some  plaid  or  figured  coverlet,  some  piece  of 
flannel  or  linen  cloth,  a  remnant  of  which  would  testify  to  her 
skill  as  a  weaver.  She  was  an  eccentric  woman,  simple-minded 
and  easily  gulled  by  those  who  wished  to  amuse  themselves  by  im- 
posing upon  her  good  nature,  and  even  her  best  friends  were  not 
above  playing  a  practical  joke  upon  her,  according  to  the  anec- 
dotes related  b}'  the  elderly  people.  Living  alone  year  in  and 
year  out,  she  followed  the  same  round  of  domestic  duties,  still 
clinging  to  her  loom  and  weaving  until  broken  down  b}^  old  age, 
and  there  came  a  day  Avhen  mind  and  memory  failed,  and  "aunt" 
Sally  Knowles  was  called  to  minister  to  her  wants.  Lastly,  a 
nephew  took  her  to  his  own  home  and  cared  for  her  until  her 
death.     She  departed  this  life  in  1844  at  the  age  of  88. 

BETTY   CLARK. 

There  are  some  persons  now  living  who  will  remember  her 
and  her  blind  son,  Orrin.  In  as  many  as  three  houses  in  this  place 
they  have  at  different  times  made  their  home,  and,  undoubtedly 
as  many  in  Little  City  district  have  sheltered  this  unfortunate 
couple.  Orrin  was  blind  from  early  childhood  and  required  con- 
stant care  from  his  over-indulgent  mother.  He  was  afflicted  with 
"rasho's"  and  when  these  spells  were  on,  his  mother  must  walk 


30  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 

■with  hiui.  As  the  "rasho"  usually  came  on  in  the  night,  poor 
old  Betty  would  have  to  turn  out  and  walk  the  streets  with  him. 
Many  a  night  have  they  walked  up  and  down  these  roads  of  ours 
through  cold  and  storm.  How  hard  the  woman  worked  to  support 
herself  and  her  son !  At  length,  worn  out,  she  was  obliged,  with  Or- 
rin,  to  go  to  the  poor  house  where  she  only  lived  a  short  time.  The 
"rasho's"  still  continued  to  afflict  Orrin,  and  having  no  longer  a 
mother  to  lead  him  about  the  streets  his  keeper  was  under  the 
necessity  of  placing  him  under  restraint.  For  many  years  he 
wore  hand-cuffs  to  prevent  his  tearing  his  clothes  or  otherwise 
destroying  things.  Poor  old  fellow!  He  died  with  the  shackles 
on  his  wrists.  His  attendant  attempted  to  remove  them  but  he 
begged  that  they  might  remain  and  his  request  was  reluctantly 
complied  with. 

MISS   LAURA   D.   SMITH. 

The  first  piano  in  the  place  was  owned  by  Miss  Smith, 
who  was  a  skilful  musician  and  a  very  remarkable  woman. 
Of  her  parentage  there  is  no  knowledge.  About  1811  she 
was  found,  a  small  babe,  in  a  basket,  at  the  door  of  Mr.  Jacoib 
Brainerd  of  Higganum.  The  town  fathers  gave  her  the  name  of 
Laura  Dwight  and  placed  her  in  the  family  of  Hazael  Smith  of 
Ponsett,  where  she  grew  up  with  his  children,  calling  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith  "father"  and  "mother,"  and  taking  their  family  name. 
Under  the  guardianship  of  INIr.  Smith  and  his  good  Avife,  she  de- 
veloped into  an  interesting  and  accomplished  young  woman.  She 
was  supposed  to  be  an  Indian  half-breed,  her  features  bearing  a 
strong  resemblance  to  those  of  that  race.  Miss  Smith  died  in 
Middletown  in  1861.  Her  remains  were  brought  to  jNIr.  Smith's 
house,  where  the  funeral  exercises  were  held  and  laid  to  rest  in 
the  Smith  family  lot  in  the  Ponsett  cemetery. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  31 

MRS.   DEBORAH   SMITH. 

Should  the  reader  ever  visit  the  old  burying  ground  in  Pon- 
sett  there  will  be  found  near  the  entrance,  the  grave  of  Mrs. 
Deborah  Smith  who  died  in  1812  at  the  advanced  age  of  100  years. 

Mrs.  Smith  was  the  grandmother  of  Hazael  Smith.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Spencer  and  she  is  supposed  to  have  been  born 
in  this  neighborhood.  There  was  a  romance  connected  with  her 
early  history — a  disappointment  in  a  love  affair,  all  the  result  of 
a  joke  plaj^ed  upon  her  by  young  friends,  which  was  not  explained 
until  too  late  to  be  remedied.  Although  she  gave  her  hand  in  mar- 
riage to  Stephen  Smith,  she  never  gave  him  her  heart.  She  used 
to  say,  "I  would  as  soon  have  given  my  hand  to  any  young  man 
in  the  company,  tlic  night  of  my  marriage,  as  to  have  given  it  to 
Stephen  Smith."  Her  love  affair  was  ever  the  chief  subject  of  her 
conversation  during  her  long  life.  It  is  evident  however  that  her 
disappointment  didn't  shorten  her  days.  Question  :  Who  of  the 
trio  was  most  to  be  pitied — herself,  the  disappointed  lover  or 
Stephen  Smith?     Answer:     Stephen  Smith. 

BECKY   ARNOLD, 

While  not  a  native  of  Ponsett,  Becky  in  her  wanderings  so 
often  passed  through  this  neighborhood  that  we  will  mention  her 
here.  Her  time  for  disturbing  the  slumbers  of  good  people,  was 
some  dark  dismal  night.  The  wilder  the  night  and  more  severe 
the  storm,  the  more  sure  the  neighbors  felt  that  Becky  was  on  the 
move.  At  times  she  would  be  taken  in,  drenched  through  and 
through  with  rain  and  shivering  with  cold.  Then,  as  the  good 
housewife  changed  her  apparel,  and  warmed  and  fed  her,  came 
the  old  story  of  her  lover  being  lost  in  a  storm  at  sea.  On  such 
wild  nights  there  was  no  rest  for  Becky.  Poor  old  woman!  Her 
rest  came  at  last.  She  perished  in  a  storm  of  snow  on  the  road 
leading  to  Durham.  When  found  her  body  was  frozen  stiff.  How 
thankful  we  ought  to  be  that  in  these  days  such  unfortunates  are 
kindly  cared  for,  and  not  left  like  Becky  to  wander  and  freeze  to 
death  bv  the  road  side. 


32  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 

SAMUEL   HUBBARD. 

Miss  Emily  Thomas  has  in  her  possession  an  old  Military 
Commission  dated  1806  and  signed  b}'  Gov.  Trumbull,  appointing 
her  grandfather,  Samuel  Hubbard,  Captain. 


A   VETERAN    OF    1812. 

Simon  Knowles,  son  of  Walker  and  Elizabeth  Wells  Knowles  of 
this  place,  a  veteran  of  the  War  of  1812,  lived  to  the  age  of  99 
and  died  November  23,  1884.  His  death  was  noted  by  a  New 
York  newspaper,  shortly  after  the  Presidential  election  of  that 
year  in  which  he  cast  his  vote.  It  was  stated  therein  that  he  was 
the  oldest  Freemason  in  the  State  of  New  York  and  probably  the 
oldest  man  who  was  then  voting  in  Delaware  Count}',  N.  Y., 
where  he  was  at  that  time  living.  For  the  newspaper  containing 
these  facts  we  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Joseph  Wells  of  New  York. 


JAMES   ORSON    THOMAS. 

This  gentleman  was  born  at  site  69,  in  1834i  or  35,  went  to 
California  about  1853  and  returned  for  a  visit  to  his  parents  in 
the  winter  of  1869-70.  He  has  since  visited  the  old  home  twice  and 
is  now  located  in  a  Western  State  where  by  natural  force  of  char- 
acter he  has  risen  to  political  and  social  prominence.  A  western 
paper  says  of  him :  "J.  O.  Thomas  is  the  latest  contributor  to  the 
records  of  agricultural  wonders.  He  brought  up  from  his  Eagle 
garden  a  bunch  of  parsnips  measuring  from  20  to  26  inches  in 
length.  If  Judge  Thomas  can  spin  out  cases  proportionately  long 
a  half  dozen  will  last  him  till  another  election  comes  around." 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponseft-Haddam  33 

HERMOX    E.    HUBBARD. 

The  son  of  Epaphro  D.  and  Achsah  A.  Dickinson  Hubbard, 
he  was  born  at  site  28  in  IS^-t.  He  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation at  the  Ponsett  district  school  and  at  the  age  of  21  he  ob- 
tained employment  in  Meriden,  continuing  there  one  year.  He 
then  located  in  Hartford  and  became  engaged  in  the  stair-building 
business  in  company  with  C.  B.  May.  He  returned  to  Meriden  in 
1872  and  engaged  in  the  same  business,  in  what  was  known  as  "the 
Steam  Mill,"  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  the  following  year.  In 
1874,  he  built  a  planing  mill  on  Cherry  Street,  which  was  also 
burned,  in  1875.  In  1877  he  built  another  mill  on  Center  Street. 
This  building  was  spared  the  flames  for  twenty-six  years  and  then 
met  with  the  same  fate  as  the  others.  In  1896  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  Meriden  Lumber  Company  and  holds  the  position 
at  the  present  time.  Mr.  Hubbard  besides  being  engaged  in  the 
above  mentioned  lines  of  business  has  been  active  in  municipal  af- 
fairs. In  1885  he  was  elected  alderman  in  the  First  ward  for  two 
years,  and  in  1886  he  was  elected  First  selectman  for  one  year. 
About  1898  he  was  elected  alderman  in  the  Fifth  ward,  also  Mayor 
Pro-tern.  In  1899  he  was  appointed  to  serve  on  the  first  board 
of  Park  Commissioners,  which  position  he  now  holds.  He  is  also 
a  life  member  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Mr.  Hubbard  was  married  in 
1873,  to  Miss  Lora  B.  Hale  of  Glastonbury. 

SMITH   CLARK. 

This  gentleman,  an  attorney  at  law,  who  for  many  years 
resided  in  Haddam  Village,  was  a  native  of  Ponsett  and  a  grand- 
son of  Capt.  James  Thomas. 


34  By  Gone  Days  in  Pousett-H addam 


THE    INDIAN    POPULATION. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  Indian  graves  in  the  old  bury- 
ing ground.  They  are  on  the  back  side  of  the  enclosure,  and  all, 
save  five,  are  unknown.  Probably  Annice  lies  in  one  of  the  un- 
marked graves.  It  is  supposed  that  she  lived  somewhere  on 
Gunger,  as  the  neighbors  on  that  hill  kept  the  tradition  of  her 
more  perfect  than  that  of  others.  She  is  said  to  have  been  useful 
in  caring  for  the  children  of  her  white  friends,  and  to  have  been 
a  very  proud  woman.  She  once  said  to  Mr.  Joshua  Knowles,  "// 
/  live  till  I  die,  I  shall  not  be  buried  in  a  grave  like  common  folks 
but  my  body  will  be  placed  in  a  vault."  The  writer  has  Mr. 
Knowles'  reply  but  forbears  to  give  it. 

MOLL  SQUAW  AND  THK  .SOHUCKS. 

Moll  Squaw  was  another  character  who  figured  here  a  cen- 
tury ago  though  it  is  not  known  where  she  made  her  home. 

Jim  Sobuck  Senior  and  his  son  Jim  Sobuck  junior,  were 
noted  Indians  in  their  day.  There  were  anecdotes  connected  with 
the  Sobucks  which  we  cannot  recall,  and  there  arc  new  no 
eldei'ly  people  left  to  relate  them.  Whether  the  Sobucks  are 
buried  here  or  not  avc  do  not  know.  A  child  of  Jim  Sobuck  junior 
is  buried  in  the  ancient  cemetery  near  the  Episcopal  Church  in 
Killingworth,  but  where  he  ended  his  days  cannot  now  be  known. 

PLUCKY   ELIZUR   SPENCER. 

Mr.  Alanson  Spencer  used  to  toll  this  story  of  his  grand- 
father, Elizur  Spencer  1st,  grappling  with  a  big  Indian  at 
the  tavern  in  Durham.  It  seems  a  burly  Indian  was  in  the  habit 
of  entering  the  tavern,  and  seating  himself  before  the  fire  to  the 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  3.) 

annoyance  of  the  guests,  and  refusing  to  move  until  he  chose  to. 
His  insolence  had  become  unbearable  and  yet  no  one  dared  to 
offend  him  by  putting  him  out.  Elizur  Spencer  of  Ponsett  hear- 
ing of  his  stubbornness  resolved  to  try  a  hand  with  him,  so  one 
winter's  day  he  started  for  Durham.  The  Indian  was  found  in 
his  accustomed  place  before  the  fire.  Being  asked  to  move  and 
sullenly  refusing,  Mr.  Spencer  took  him  by  the  nape  of  the  neck, 
and  with  much  struggling  on  the  part  of  the  Indian  put  him  out 
of  the  house  with,  "There — I  thought  you'd  move  when  'Lizur 
came."  Neither  landlord  nor  guests  had  further  trouble  from  the 
Indian. 

A   UUKSTIOX    OF    HUMANITY. 

For  many  years  straggling  bands  of  Indians  often  passed 
the  place  and  usually  made  their  encampment  near  the  house  of 
Jeremiah  Hubbard.  On  one  occasion  when  they  had  built  their 
camp-fires,  the  squaws  proceeded  to  roast  speckled  turtles,  which 
they  had  gathered  on  their  journey,  placing  them  alive  on  the  hot 
coals.  One  of  the  Hubbard  women  remonstrated  with  them,  call- 
ing them  cruel ;  whereupon  an  Indian  woman  retorted  by  asking, 
"How  do  3'^ou  cook  clams?  Do  you  first  kill  them  or  do  you  put  them 
in  a  kettle  and  place  them  alive  over  a  slow  fire— which  is  the  most 
cruel,  to  roast  live  turtles  or  boil  live  clams?" 

THE    COCKAPOKSITS. 

Little  i.s  now  known  of  the  Cockaponsit  Indians  or  wliero  they 
buried  their  dead  before  the  coming  of  the  white  man.  Occasionally 
the  farmer  will  unearth  an  arrow  head,  which  shows  that  our 
hills  and  vales  were  once  the  hunting  ground  of  the  red  man.  But 
alas !,  the  proud  Indian  has  long  since  departed,  crowded  out  by 
a  superior  race,  who  could  drive  a  bargain  with  the  native  kings 
and  queens,  and  for  thirty  coats,  valued  at  a  little  over  three 
dollars  apiece,  purchase  a  whole  township.  And  when,  in  a 
few  months,  the  coats  were  worn  out,  the  poor  Indian  found  not 
only  that  the  coats  were  gone,  but  that  tlie  land  also  liad  passed 
out  of  his  hands  forever. 


36  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-H nddam 


THE   FAMILY    OF   ABKAM    SIMOXS. 

\Vc  will  now  turn  to  an  interesting  stor^' — one  with  a  begin- 
ning bright  and  full  of  promise  and  an  end  dark  and  sad,  that  of 
the  last  of  the  Indian  race  in  Ponsett — the  family  of  Abram 
Simons ;  and  as  we  write  we  wish  that  the  end  of  this  inter- 
esting family  could  have  been  as  bright  as  the  beginning.  But 
poor  Lo  received  little  help  from  his  white  brethren — the}-  rather 
pulled  him  down  instead  of  building  him  up. 

Abram  Simons  lived  at  site  37.  How  he  came  to  settle  there 
the  writer  cannot  tell.  He  was  a  Narragansett  Indian,  while 
Prudence  his  wife,  or  Dence  as  she  was  commonly  called,  was 
from  one  of  the  Long-Island  tribes.  She  came  to  him  with  one 
daughter  named  Tamar.  Abram  was  educated  at  Dartmouth 
College.  Before  going  into  the  later  history  of  the  family,  the 
attention  of  the  reader  is  invited  to  the  following  letter : 

Dartmouth  College, 
Hanover,  N.  H.  Aug.  2,  1905. 
My  dear  Mr, 

I  have  had  an  interesting  time  this  morning  hunting  for 
information  concerning  Abraham  Simons.  He  is  not  a  graduate 
of  Dartmouth,  but  was  a  student  here.  He  was  a  student  in 
Moor's  Indian  Charity  School  at  Lebanon,  Conn.,  and  wjien  Dart- 
mouth was  founded  in  1 769  by  Dr.  Wheelock,  who  had  conducted 
the  Charit}'^  School,  two  Indians  came  with  him,  Abraham  and 
Daniel  Simons,  then  spelled  Symons.  Daniel  remained  here  and 
graduated  from  College  1777,  then  became  a  teacher  and  preacher. 
Abraham  remained  here  until  1772  and  then  was  sent  by  Dr. 
Wheelock  among  the  Tuscaroras  of  Central  N,  Y.  His  story  in 
this  connection  is  given  by  Wheelock  on  the  separate  sheet  here- 
with enclosed. 

After  that  period  Abraham  disappears  from  all  Dartmouth 
records.  I  do  not  at  present  know  how  to  find  anything  further, 
but  probably  his  after  life  would  be  treated  in  some  history  of  the 
Narragansett  or  Six  Nations  Indians. 

If  I  come  upon  any  further  information  I  shall  let  you  know. 
Yours  sincerely 

(Signed)      R.  W.  Husband. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  37 

The  following  is  from  the  other  sheet   referred  to  by  Prof. 
Husband  in  his  letter  above. 

Whkklock — A  narrative  of  the  Rise  and   Progress   of  the 
Indian  Charity  School  1773.     p.  p.  7-8. 

October  21/1772.  John  Matthews  of  the  Narragansett  Tribe, 
having  received  an  education  in  this  school  sufficient  for  a  school- 
master, I  sent  to  Mr.  Kirkland,  in  order  to  learn  the  language 
of  that  tribe,  and  to  be  employed  as  Mr.  Kirkland  should  think 
proper,  till  he  should  be  sufficiently  master  of  that  tongue,  to  be 
an  instructor  among  the  Six  Nations,  and  after  that  to  return  and 
further  pursue  a  course  of  useful  studies,  to  qualify  him  for  that 
purpose,  if  it  should  then  appear  expedient.  He  made  me  a  visit 
last  Februar}',  and  gave  an  account  of  the  kind  treatment  he  had 
met  with  among  the  Indians,  and  was  of  opinion  that  schools  might 
be  had  for  him  and  his  cousin  Abraham  Symons,  who  has  also 
been  fitting  in  this  school  for  the  same  purpose.  Whereupon  I 
proposed  to  them,  that  I  would  give  them  a  reasonable  support 
among  the  Indians,  if  they  would  undertake  and  faithfully  pursue 
the  business  of  school-keeping,  till  they  should  themselves  become 
sufficient  masters  of  that  language.  They  set  out  on  that  tour 
Feb.  27th,  and  June  20th,  Symons  returned  and  brought  an  ac- 
count which  was  also  confirmed  by  a  letter  from  Mr.  Avery,  that 
the  Indians  in  a  large  meeting  called  for  that  purpose,  determined 
to  have  no  more  English  schools  or  missionaries  among  them,  so 
that  mv  hopes  of  being  useful  to  them  in  such  a  way  were  cut 
off." 


The  Daniel  Simons  mentioned  above  is  presumably  a  brother 
of  Abram  or  Abraham  as  the  College  records  spell  his  name;  but 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Field  in  his  history  of  Haddam  invariably  spelt  his 
name  Abram.  Of  his  early  life,  however,  we  know  no  more  than 
what  Prof.  Husband  has  written. 


38  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 

abram's  later  life. 

We  have  a  very  imperfect  account  of  Abrani  during  the  next 
twenty  3'ears  after  his  leaving  Dartmouth.  That  he  followed 
school-teaching  a  part  of  the  time  is  proba'blc,  as  in  after  life  he 
took  great  pleasure  in  visiting  the  district  school  and  talking 
to  the  scholars,  and  telling  them  how  he  used  to  punish  his  pupils 
by  tmisting  their  ears.  It  is  thought  he  married  his  first  wife 
somewhere  in  Massachusetts  and  that  the  marriage  was  an  un- 
happy one.  Two  noble  young  Indians  who  occasionally  visited 
Dence  were  said  to  have  been  her  step-sons.  One  of  them  was 
deeply  interested  in  Tamar  and  tried  to  persuade  her  to  go  away 
with  him,  but  she  refused  his  offer  preferring  to  remain  with  her 
mother. 

Abram  and  Dence  eventually  settled  in  Ponsett  where  their 
four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters  were  born,  Sylvanus  in 
1795,  Abram  in  1797,  Esther  about  1801  and  Prudence,  otherwise 
called  Prudy,  in  180-1.  Abram  was  a  man  much  respected,  and 
Dence  for  her  sterling  worth  endeared  herself  to  her  white  neigh- 
bors. The  two  procured  a  livelihood  and  were  respectable  inhabi- 
tants, but  a  cloud  passed  over  the  family.  In  1805  young  Abram 
died  and  two  years  later  his  brother  followed  him.  The  heart  of 
Abram  Avas  buried  in  the  grave  with  his  boj's ;  his  hopes  were 
blighted  and  the  Indian  father  never  recovered  from  the  blow. 
He  lived  until  1812  when  he  followed  his  boys  to  the  spirit  world. 
His  body  was  taken  from  the  house  in  a  violent  rain  storm  and 
carried  to  the  grave  in  an  ox-cart.  Owing  to  the  severity  of  the 
storm  the  widow  and  her  daughters  could  not  follow  him  to  the 
grave.     His  age  was  63  years. 

Now  began  Dence's  struggle  to  maintain  herself  and  family, 
and  courageously  she  took  up  her  heavy  burden.  Her  occupation 
was  that  of  basket-making,  and  with  the  help  of  Tamar  she  suc- 
ceeded in  providing  for  herself  and  daughters.     Esther  and  Prudy 


By  Gone  Days  in  Pons'eft-Haddam  39 

were  kept  in  school,  laboring  at  a  disadvantage  through  the  jeal- 
ousy of  the  whites.  Being  Indians,  they  were  kept  at  the  foot 
of  the  class.  Notwithstanding  that  in  a  spelling  match  Prudy 
could  spell  them  all  down,  she  was  not  allowed  to  pass  above 
a  white  scholar.  Finally  the  younger  girls  were  able  to  weave 
baskets  and  thus  add  to  their  little  store.  Dence,  by  strict 
economy,  laid  by  a  considerable  sum  of  money  towards  building 
a  new  house,  for  the  old  building  had  become  poor,  and  besides 
there  was  no  oven  in  the  chimney.  She  was  looking  forward  with 
pleasure  to  her  new  house  and  oven,  when  she  was  persuaded  to 
lend  her  money  to  a  neighbor  and  lost  it  all.  The  old  house  was 
finally  burnt,  taking  fire  from  sparks  from  the  fire  place.  When 
the  alarm  was  given  Tamar  came  down  stairs  bringing  her  bed 
with  her.  A  hovel  was  then  erected  and  in  this  miserable  abode 
Tamar  sickened  and  died.  The  town  fathers  with  help  from  the 
neighbors  built  a  new  house  over  the  old  cellar,  and  in  this  house 
good  old  Dence  finished  her  course  in  1836,  aged  about  80  years. 

ESTHER   AND   PRUDY   SIMONS. 

These  Indian  maidens  having  had  in  early  years  the  advan- 
tage of  an  educated  father  to  instruct  them,  and  after  his  death 
the  privileges  of  the  district  school,  were  not  behind  many  of  their 
white  neighbors  in  a  common  education.  Prudy  had  a  library  of 
many  good  books,  which  in  that  day  very  few  white  girls  could 
boast  of.  There  being  no  young  Indians  to  take  them  in  marriage, 
they  made  the  great  mistake  in  receiving  the  attention  of  low 
whites,  and  this  caused  the  ruin  of  the  family.  In  a  carousal  on 
the  evening  of  May  13th,  1837  the  house  caught  fire.  Prudy  es- 
caped the  flames  but  Esther  was  burnt  with  the  building.  The 
neighbors  gathered  up  her  remains  and  buried  them  beside  her 
mother.  From  this  time,  Prudy,  although  without  a  home,  always 
found  employment,  sometimes  at  house-work  and  again  at  basket- 


40  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 

making  or  weaving  splint  seats  for  chairs.  At  last,  in  1870,  being 
in  feeble  health,  she  went  to  the  poor  house  in  Haddam  where  she 
soon  died.  Her  request  to  be  brought  to  Ponsett  for  burial  was 
not  complied  with,  there  being  no  one  with  sufficient  interest  to 
carry  out  the  wishes  of  this  last  member  of  the  family  of  Abram 
Simons.  She  was  buried  in  the  pauper's  corner  of  the  old  town 
yard.    And  here  is  the  sorrowful  ending  of  the  Indian  family. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponaett-Haddaiv  41 


A   NOBLE   ARMY   OF   MARTYRS. 

It  has  been  said  that  old  maids  are  the  salt  of  the  earth,  and 
many  of  us  know  how  "handy"  the  maiden  "Aunt"  is  in  the 
family.  They  are  always  supposed  to  be  ready  to  "help  out"  in 
sickness  or  any  other  adversity — why  shouldn't  they.''  Having 
no  family  ties  of  their  own,  they  ought  to  be  ready  to  run  at  the 
beck  and  call  of  all  their  married  relations.  If  Almah  had  an 
ailment  "Aunt"  Rhoda  or  Dassie  was  sent  for  and  she  quickly  got 
relief.  Who  could  make  a  bandage  or  dress  a  wound  more  deftly 
than  "Aunt"  Lusina.?  And  while  applying  the  bandage  she 
would  tell  a  story  that  would  make  a  boy  laugh  and  forget  his 
pain.  If  a  button  came  off  or  his  pants  were  torn,  while  mother 
was  busy,  "Auntie"  was  always  ready  to  mend  the  rent  or  sew  on 
the  button.  What  timely  advice  many  of  them  could  give  parents 
in  regard  to  the  governing  of  children ! 

How  vividly  we  recall  the  form  and  features  of  many  of  these 
estimable  women — for  instance,  the  mild  peace-loving  face  of  Miss 
Miriam  Hubbard !  The  epitaph  on  her  gravestone  beginning  with, 
"God  claims  thee  gentle  one,"  is  but  a  fitting  tribute  to  her 
memory. 

In  1845  and  the  twenty  years  following,  Ponsctt  was  certainly 
blessed  with  a  goodly  number  of  these  excellent  unmarried  women. 
The  roll  of  lionor  ran  something  like  this :  Thankful  and  Mariam 
Smith,  Cynthia  Thomas,  Miriam,  Rhoda  and  Hadassah  Hubbard. 

These  were  well  advanced  in  years,  while  closely  following  came 
Damaris  Spencer,  Lusina  Hubbard,  Cleantha  Brainerd,  Tamson 
and  Jerusha  Bonfoey,  Laura  and  Mary  Smith  and  I^ucy  Smith. 
Cleantha,  Lucy,  Mary  and  Jerusha  deserted  the  ranks  and  entered 
wedlock. 


42  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 

A  few  years  later  Lusina,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two,  passed 
over  into  the  matrimonial  state;  but  the  vacancy  was  soon 
filled  hy  Hannah,  Esther  and  Ursula  Spencer,  ^Miranda  Knowles, 
Ellen  Brainerd  and  others.  After  serving  a  few  years  Esther 
and  Ellen  also  deserted  and  made  faitliful  wives  and  step-mothers. 

No  tongue  can  tell  how  )uany  of  these  worthies  had  lying 
buried  deep  in  the  heart  some  romance  of  early  life.  Some  lover 
married  the  other  girl,  another  young  man  proving  wortWess  was 
rejected,  while  a  few  might  have  given  Dinah  Gladwin's  reason  for 
remaining  single, — "I  was  to  have  been  married  but  he  died." 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  43 


CHAPTER    OF    CASUALTIES. 

Not  far  from  the  year  1800,  Asa  Walkley,  a  worthy  resident 
of  the  place  was  struck  by  lightning  and  instantly'  killed,  while 
sitting  by  his  window  during  a  thunder  shower. 

Edmund  Hubbard,  a  son  of  Joel  Hubbard,  is  supposed  to 
have  perished  at  sea,  about  1790.  The  exact  date  cannot  be 
ascertained  as  the  vessel  with  officers  and  crew  was  never  heard 
from. 

It  is  a  remarkable  coincidence  that  John  Hubbard,  another 
son  of  Joel  Hubbard,  is  also  supposed  to  have  been  lost,  in  a 
gale  at  sea,  on  the  10th  of  September,  1800,  while  on  a  vessel 
bound  for  the  West  Indies,  which  vessel,  also,  was  never  heard 
from. 

Thus,  five  young  men  from  the  town  of  Haddam,  nearly 
all,  if  not  all  of  them  from  Ponsett,  must  have  met  an  untimely 
end.  Their  names  were  John  Hubbard,  Willard  Knowlcs,  Chal- 
lenge Smith,  Prince  Thomas  and  another  by  the  name  of  Porter. 

Abraham  Brooks  was  killed  by  falling  from  a  ladder  while 
engaged  in  painting  house  at  site  14,  his  head  striking  on  a  rock 
near  the  north  west  corner  of  the  building.     His  age  was  73. 

August  31st,  1827,  William  Lanfier,  a  step-son  of  John 
Knowles,  and  the  son  of  his  wife  Sarah  by  a  former  marriage, 
was  killed  on  the  road  to  Haddam.  He  was  riding  on  a  stick  of 
timber  and  somehow  lost  his  balance  and  fell,  the  wheel  of  the 
cart  passing  across  his  breast.  He  Avas  conveyed  to  the  house  of 
Mrs.  Simons,  an  Indian  woman,  where,  in  a  short  time,  he  breathed 
his  last.    His  age  was  20  years. 


44  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 

Esther  Simons,  an  Indian  woman,  perished  in  a  fire  in  1837. 
The  sad  story  of  her  closing  days  is  found  in  a  preceding  chapter. 

In  1863  Mrs.  Nancy  M.  Huntington  was  found  lying  un- 
conscious by  the  road  side  having  been  thrown  from  a  wagon.  She 
died  in  a  few  hours. 

December  30th,  1869,  John  H.  Knowles,  a  sufferer  from  fall- 
ing sickness,  was  seized  with  a  fit  and  scalded,  from  the  effects  of 
which  he  died  six  days  after. 

In  1857,  Oswin  Hubbard  a  sailor,  a  grandson  of  Eli  Hub- 
bard, fell  from  mast-head,  striking  the  rail  of  the  ship,  and 
was  lost  in  the  sea. 


Bji  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-H adduJi}  45 


PONSETT'S    PICTURESQUE    FEATURES. 

Ponsett  abounds  with  hill  and  vales ;  the  prospect  from  some 
of  elevations  being  magnificent.  From  Gunger  heights  the  view 
towards  the  east  is  enchanting,  and  looking  over  the  Ponsett  valley, 
the  eye  stretches  on  beyond  the  Connecticut  river  to  an  immense 
distance.  Tourists  who  climb  the  hill  are  delighted  with  the  pros- 
pect, which  for  grandeur  is  rarely  surpassed  elsewhere  in  this 
country.  From  Goose  hill  the  scene  is  scarcely  less  beautiful.  Here 
we  get  a  fine  view  of  the  lovely  Connecticut  as  it  winds  its  way  to 
Long  Island  Sound.  The  picturesque  village  of  Moodus,  which 
nestles  amid  the  hills  on  the  east  side  of  the  Connecticut,  is  plainly 
to  be  seen,  and  a  fine  view  is  obtained  of  the  lofty  spire  on  the 
Congregational  Church  at  Little  Haddam.  We  also  catch  a 
glimpse  of  the  spires  at  Haddam  Neck,  Middle  Haddam,  and  Hig- 
ganum,  while  the  cross  of  St.  James'  Church  in  the  Ponsett  valley 
rises  over  the  surrounding  hills.  From  Knowles  hill  an  extensive 
view  is  obtained  of  the  Connecticut  valley.  From  John's  hill,  whose 
summit  until  recently  was  crowned  with  a  huge  apple  tree,  which 
had  stood  the  wintry  blasts  of  a  century  and  was  plainly  visible 
from  Millington  green,  is  seen  an  enchanting  prospect  of  lofty 
hills  and  deep  valleys ;  the  hill  sides  being  dotted  with  farm  houses,, 
and  villages  showing  in  the  distance.  From  Calvin  Hill  with  its 
sheep  rock,  a  shelving  ledge  under  which  a  flock  of  sheep  were 
once  struck  by  lightning,  we  obtain  a  view  of  Beaver  Meadow 
and  Turkey  Hill. 


46  By  Gone  Days  in  P onset t-Haddam 


OUR    PRODUCTIVE   SOIL. 

Our  hill  sides  arc  well  adapted  for  grazing,  while  the  flat  lands 
with  diligent  culture  are  very  productive.  The  soil  is  good  and 
generally  very  grateful  for  what  is  done  to  it.  In  the  olden  times 
our  hills  were  crowned  with  wheat,  but  the  incoming  of  the  hessian 
fly  put  a  stop  to  wheat  raising.  Rye,  Indian  corn,  buckwheat, 
barley,  and  some  oats,  are  the  principal  products  grown  at  the 
present  time,  together  with  potatoes,  turnips  and  other  vege- 
tables. Fruit  growing  is  in  a  few  instances  made  to  pay  quite 
well.  Apple  orchards  are  less  numerous  than  formerly,  when 
nearly  every  man  had  a  cider  mill  on  liis  farm,  but  there  is  not  a 
cider  mill  left  in  Ponsett.  The  dairy  business  is  followed  to  some 
extent,  and  swine  and  poultry  are  also  raised  for  home  use. 

The  lowlands  are  well  adapted  for  grass  growing  and  nearly 
every  farm  is  well  supplied  with  living  springs  of  water. 
Flax  was  raised  here  to  some  extent  as  late  as  the  Forties, 
when  every  housewife  knew  how  to  spin  linen.  The  pleasant  hum 
of  the  little  flax  wheel  is  heard  no  more ;  the  buzz  of  the  sewing 
machine  has  taken  its  place.  The  farmer  is  no  longer  employed 
on  cold  winter  days  in  breaking  and  dressing  flax  and  other  em- 
ploynients  have  succeeded  this  once  important  industry.  Some- 
times we  are  inclined  to  think  the  former  days  were  better  than 
these.  Nevertheless  we  would  not  like  to  go  back  to  those  far 
away  times  for  we  now  have  comforts  unknown  to  our  fore- 
fathers.    Let  us  be  thankful  that  our  lot  has  fallen  on  better  days. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  47 


FAMILIAR   STREAMS. 

The  Great  brook,  commonly  called  the  Ponsett  brook,  which 
drains  the  valley  from  the  west,  receives  numerous  tributaries  that 
come  from  the  hills.  After  receiving  the  waters  of  the  Salt 
Peter  brook  it  becomes  a  good-sized  stream,  and  makes  a  pleasant 
picture  as  it  rushes  over  the  Dish-mill  falls,  then,  passing  on 
a  mile  or  more  and  receiving  other  tributaries,  it  becomes  Hig- 
ganum  river  and  enters  the  Connecticut  at  that  place. 

There  is  another  small  brook  which  is  one  of  the  sources  of 
Mill  river  and  has  its  origin  in  a  boiling  spring  a  few  rods  south 
of  site  25.  This  little  stream  runs  in  an  easterly  direction  and 
enters  the  Connecticut  at  Haddam.  All  these  streams  abound  in 
fish  and  are  a  source  of  great  delight  to  the  angler. 

Still  another  little  rippling  stream  must  not  be  forgotten, 
the  Coal-Pit  brook,  which  has  its  rise  in  Polly  ledges,  crossing  the 
Morris  road  on  its  way  to  the  Great  brook.  No  bridge  has  ever 
been  built  over  the  brook  at  the  Morris  road  crossing,  and  in 
winter  the  stream  is  often  swollen  and  turbulent.  It  was  at  this 
crossing,  in  January,  1804*,  where  Mrs.  Eunice  Skinner,  returning 
from  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Judith  Knowles  waded  the  torrent  in  a 
blinding  storm  of  snow. 


48  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 


THE    ROLL    OF    CLERICALS. 

The  Rev.  Jonathan  Burr  Hubbard,  son  of  Amasa  and  Betsey 
Burr  Hubbard,  was  born  at  site  50,  April  9th,  1810.  He  became  a 
Presbyterian  minister  and  settled  at  Middle  Granville,  N.  Y.  In 
1844  he  married  Miss  Marj^  Eleanor  Fish,  at  Whitesboro  near 
Utica,  N.  Y.  He  also  served  in  the  ministry  in  Wood  County 
Ohio  and  at  Adrian  Mich.,  where  he  died. 

The  Rev.  David  Brainerd  Hubbard,  son  of  Joseph  S.  and 
Emma  Brainerd  Hubbard,  born  April  30th,  1847.  His  birth 
place  was  at  site  C.  After  receiving  an  education  at  the 
Little  City  district  school  he  entered  the  Wilbraham  Academy 
and  Wesleyan  College  and  then  the  Hartford  Theological 
Seminary  from  which  he  graduated  in  1872.  He  was  or- 
dained to  the  Ministry  in  the  Congregational  Church  at  Staf- 
fordville  where  he  had  officiated  during  his  senior  year  at  the 
Seminary.  Early  in  1874  he  received  a  call  from  the  church  in 
Canton  Center,  which  he  accepted,  remaining  there  eleven  years. 
He  then  removed  to  Middletown,  and  became  pastor  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  in  Westfield,  Avhcre  he  has  remained  and  done 
faithful  work  in  the  parish  for  twenty-two  3'ears.  He  has  been 
no  rover,  but  diligent  in  the  Master's  service,  in  the  place  where 
Divine  Providence  has,  unquestionably,  appointed  him.  He  has 
also  been  one  of  the  foremost  and  active  members  of  the  Westfield 
Grange,  serving  as  Chaplain  and  Lecturer.  Mr,  Hubbard  has  twice 
married,  first  to  Miss  Harriet  E.  Burr  and  secondly  to  Miss 
Alice  R.  Burr,  his  wives  being  sisters,  and  daughters  of  Jonathan 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  49 

H.  and  Margaret  Denison  Burr  of  Little  Cit}^  district.  As  a 
pastor,  Mr.  Hubbard  sympathizes  with  the  afflicted,  having  him- 
self drank  deeply  of  the  bitter  cup  of  affliction.  Four  lovely  chil- 
dren, their  ages  ranging  from  two  to  twenty-one  years,  lie  buried 
in  the  neat  little  cemetery  by  the  road-side  in  Little  City.  He 
has  seven  children  now  living,  the  youngest  eleven  years  old. 

The  Rev.  George  Wood,  son  of  Lloyd  A.  and  Delia  A.  Clark 
Wood,  became  a  Methodist  Minister.  He  is  now  living  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

The  Rev.  William  Clark  Knowles,  son  of  John  H.  and  Tanson 
M.  Clark  Knowles,  was  born  at  site  29,  March  23,  1840.  He 
studied  for  the  Ministry  under  the  Rev.  Dr.  Deshon  of  Meriden  and 
was  ordained  Deacon  in  St.  Andrews  Church  in  that  city  in  1875. 
He  was  ordained  Priest  in  1886  in  Emmanuel  Church  Killing- 
worth. 


50  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 


PUBLIC   WORSHIP. 

For  over  a  century  our  ancestors  attended  public  worship  at 
the  Congregational  Church  at  Haddam.  Many  were  obliged  to 
go  a  distance  of  four  miles  over  the  rough  roads,  and  those  living  in 
the  Little  City  district  from  one  to  two  miles  farther.  There  were 
no  light  wagons  in  those  days,  the  journey  being  usually  made  on 
horseback,  the  husband  on  the  saddle  and  the  wife  seated  on  a 
pillion  behind  him,  while  others  made  the  journey  on  foot.  The 
Congregational  Church  was  the  standing  order,  and  a  generation 
had  come  up  who  knew  no  other  mode  of  worship.  The  township 
being  of  extensive  area  with  constantly  increasing  population  it 
must  have  been  almost  impossible  for  one  pastor  to  keep  watch 
over  so  wade  a  territory,  or  feed  so  large  a  flock.  In  the  remote 
corners  of  the  town  the  consequence  was,  probably,  indifference 
and  neglect  of  religious  duties  to  an  alarming  extent. 

This  was  remedied  in  a  great  measure,  by  the  organization 
in  1793,  of  a  Methodist  Society  in  the  western  part  of  the  town. 
As  the  house  of  worship,  erected  in  1795  was  located  in  that  por- 
tion of  Ponsett  known  as  the  Burr  district,  we  will  not  attempt  to 
give  its  history  here.  For  additional  information  concerning  it 
the  reader  is  referi'ed  to  an  Historical  Sketch  of  this  church,  by 
Rev.  Saul  O.  Curtice,  wherein  is  given  an  account  of  the  good  vv-ork 
done  by  the  Ponsett  M.  E.  Church.  In  looking  over  the  list  of 
members  we  find  the  names  of  over  fifty  persons  from  this  dis- 
trict, who,  since  its  organization  have  been  connected  with  this 
Society. 


Bij  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-H addam  51 

St.  James'  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  began  with  a  small 
Sunday  School  in  1861.  Lay-reading  began  the  first  Sunday  in 
Advent  of  that  year.  The  Rev.  H.  B.  Hitchings,  rector  of  St. 
Stephen's  Ohurch  East  Haddam,  gave  the  first  clerical  service,  fol- 
lowed later  on  by  the  Rev.  H.  T.  Gregory,  the  Rev.  Francis 
Goodwin,  and  an  occasional  visit  from  Bishop  Williams.  Interest 
increasing,  a  lot  was  procured  and  ground  broken  for  a  church  in 
1871.  The  following  year  the  cornerstone  was  laid  and  in  1873 
the  building  was  closed  in,  and  formally  opened  by  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Fuller  D.  D.  of  Middletown.  The  next  year,  1874,  the  interior 
was  finished  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Coit  of  the  Berkeley  Divinity  School, 
gave  the  opening  service.  In  1877,  all  debts  on  the  building 
being  discharged,  the  church  was  consecrated.  In  1889  a  tower 
was  added  and  a  bell  raised  to  its  place  amid  great  rejoicing.  As 
this  is  not  a  Church  History  no  more  need  be  said,  only  thanks 
for  the  Divine  blessino". 


52  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-H addam 


THE   MEDICAL    PROFESSION. 

Over  a  century  has  passe<l  since  we  have  had  the  services  of  a 
resident  physician.  Dr.  Eleazer  Woodruff  for  many  years  lived  in 
this  place  at  site  65.  He  married  Mrs.  Abigail  Clark  Spencer,  the 
widow  of  Samuel  Spencer.  We  regret  that  so  little  can  now  be 
learned  concerning  him.  In  1783  he  buried  an  infant  son  in  the 
old  burying  ground,  an  elaborate  headstone  marking  the  grave, 
but  we  do  not  know  when  cr  where  Dr.  Woodruff  or  his  wife  died. 
Mr.  Eleazer  Woodruff,  a  grandson  of  the  Doctor  has  lately  died 
in  Guilford  at  an  advanced  age.  But  for  his  passing  away  much 
valuable  information  could  undoubtedly  be  obtained  concerning 
his  grandfather. 

Since  the  days  of  Dr.  Woodruff  we  have  had  to  depend  for 
medical  assistance  on  the  physicians  at  Haddam  and  Higganum. 
We  may  mention  Drs.  Clark,  Warner,  Catlin,  Hutchingson,  Bid- 
well  and  Hazen  of  Haddam  and  Drs.  Andrus,  Tremaine,  Bailey, 
Smith  and  Kellogg  of  Higganum.  The  services  of  Dr.  Hill  and 
Dr.  Burr  of  KillingAvorth  were  also  called  for  when  occasion 
required. 

DR.    SAMUEL    THOMAS    HUBBARD. 

Ponsett  has  also  given  to  the  medical  fraternity  an  able 
physician  in  the  person  of  Samuel  Thomas  Hubbard  M.  D. 
Doctor  Hubbard  was  the  son  of  Amasa  and  Betsey  Burr  Hubbard. 
He  was  born  ivt  site  50  Feb.  19,  1808.  He  received  his  education 
at  the  Brainerd  Academy  in  Haddam,  Grammar  school  in  Middle- 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  53 

town  and  Suffield  Academy.  He  studied  medicine  under  the  care  of 
Dr.  Amos  S.  Miller  of  New  York  and  in  1835  he  was  there  gradu- 
ated from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons.  He  was 
President  of  the  New  York  County  Medical  Society  from  1866 
to  1867,  Vice-President  of  the  New  York  Academy  of  Medicine  in 
1873  and  in  1881<  he  declined  a  proffered  nomination  as  President 
of  the  Academy.  He  was  attending  physician  at  the  Presby- 
terian Hospital  from  1875  to  1881  and  Consulting  Physician 
from  1880  to  1885.  He  served  also  as  Vice-President,  President 
and  member  of  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Society  for  Relief 
of  Widows  and  Orphans  of  Medical  men  and  was  Trustee  of  the 
College  of  Ph^-^sicians  and  Surgeons  from  1874)  to  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1894. 


54 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 


PONSETT   IN   THE   WARS. 

While  it  is  difficult  to  ascertain  who  of  our  forefathers  served 
under  the  British  soAereign  in  our  Colonial  wars,  wc  find  arrayed 
on  that  side  the  names  of  Lieut.  Daniel  Hubbard  and  Lieut. 
John  Knowles. 

Mr.  Frank  L.  Hubbard,  forinerl}^  of  this  place,  but  now  of 
Nebraska,  has  in  his  possession  an  old  commission  given  by  King 
George  to  Aaron  Smith. 

Probably  there  were  man}-  more  who  served  in  the  army  as 
tihe  country  had  need.  The  descendants  of  Mrs.  Anna  Hubbard 
point  with  pride  to  the  lot  of  Capt.  Braincrd,  wliich  she  plowed 
and  sowed  with  rye  when  her  husband  Joel  Hubbard  was  in  the 
army. 

Engaged  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution  we  find  these  names : 


CAPT.    SAMUEL    HUBBARD 
ENSIGN    JEREMIAH    HUBBARD 
ENSIGN    JAMES    KXOWLES 
SERGT.  ABXER  SPENCER 
CORPORAL  FREDERICK  PLATT 
CORPORAL  AARON   THOMAS 
WILLIAM    GLADDING 
DAVID   HUBBARD 
REUBEN    HUBBARD 
TIMOTHY  HUBBARD 
SAMUEL  HUBBARD 


f 


WALKER    KNOWLES 
LEMUEL  PRATT 
JOEL  HUBBARD   2nD 
JAMES    HUBBARD       i^ 
JOB    HUBBARD 
SAMUEL    SPENCER 
ELIZUR  SPENCER 
EBENEZER    THOMAS 
EVAN    THOMAS 

and  probably 

CAPT.    JAMES    THOMAS 


Joel  Hubbard  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  British   and  con- 
fined for  some  time  in  the  prison  ship  at  New  York. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 


55 


Of  those  who  served  in  the  war  of  1812  we  have  the  follow- 


ing; 


SYLVESTER   BRAINERD 
ABRAHAM    HUBBARD 
CALVIN    HUBBARD 
MATTHEW    HUBBARD 


SIMEON    HUBBARD 
WELLS   KNOWLES 
SIMON    KNOWLES 
ROSWELL   SUTLIEF 


The  names  of  those  that  enlisted  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
are  as  follows : 


STEPHEN   CLARK 
RUSSELL  CLARK 
JOHN   CLARK 
HENERY    LEE 
JOHN    L.    MORRILL 


ERASTUS  H.  KNOWLES 
RUSSELL   SPENCER 
ABRIATHAS  H.  SPENCER 
SAMUEL  T.   SPENCER 
LLOYD  A.  WOOD 


Of  the  above  Russell  Spencer  and  Samuel  T.  Spencer  never 
returned.  John  L.  ]Morrill  died  soon  after  his  return  and  was 
buried  on  a  knoll  west  of  his  dwelling  house,  site  1. 

Who  will  say  that  the  above  is  not  a  good  showing  for  one 
small  neighborhood?  In  time  of  national  peril,  old  Ponsett  has 
been  found  faithful ! 


56  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 


ABOUT   OUR   ANCESTRY. 

The  Baileys  have  descended  from  John  Bailey,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Haddam. 

The  Bonfoey  family  were  of  French  Huguenot  extraction. 

The  Brainerds  are  descendants  of  Deacon  Daniel  Brainerd, 
who  came  from  Braintree,  England,  about  1649,  he  then  being  a 
mere  lad.     On  reaching  manhood  he  settled  in  Haddam. 

The  Clarks  are  descendants  of  William  Clark  one  of  the 
original  settlers  of  the  town. 

The  Hubbards  have  descended  from  Daniel  Hubbard  a 
grandson  of  George  Hubbard  who  settled  in  Middletown  about 
1650.  Daniel  Hubbard  was  left  motherless  when  an  infant  of 
eight  days  and  was  brought  to  Haddam  by  his  maternal  grand- 
parents. On  reaching  man's  estate  he  became  a  great  landholder 
in  Ponsett.  He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Susannah  Bailey,  sec- 
ond to  Bathsheba  Stow. 

The  Knowleses  are  descendants  of  Lieut.  John  Knowles  who 
settled  in  Ponsett  about  1742.  He  was  a  son  of  Col.  John  and 
Mary  Sears  Knowles  of  Eastham,  Mass.  and  grandson  of  John 
and  Apphia  Bangs  Knowles,  his  grandmother  being  a  daughter 
of  Jjdward  Bangs  a  Pilgrim  who  came  to  New  England  in  the 
ship  Anne  in  1623.  The  last  mentioned  John  was  killed  by  the 
Indians  in  King  Philip's  War,  near  Taunton  Mass.  April  3rd 
1675.  He  was  a  son  of  Richard  Knowles,  who  is  supposed  to 
have  been  a  native  of  Lincolnshire,  England,  and  came  to  this 
country  about  1628  and  settled  in  Plymouth,  Mass.  where  he 
married  Ruth  Bower  Avigf.  15,  1639. 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddavi  57 

Mehetabel  Walker  Knowles,  the  wife  of  Lieut.  John  Knowles, 
was  a  great-great  granddaughter  of  Stephen  Hopkins  of  the 
Mayflower. 

The  Thomas  families  are  descendants  of  Roger  Thomas  who 
came  from  Cape  Cod  and  settled  here  about  1742.  His  wife  is 
said  to  have  been  a  descendant  of  Stephen  Hopkins. 

The  Wilcox  famil}^  were  descendants  of  John  Wilcox  an 
early  settler  of  North  Killingworth. 

Nearly  all  the  old  families  were  of  sturdy  New  England 
stock.  Most  of  them  could  boast  of  Pilgrim  ancestry.  Miss 
Effie  and  Miss  Josephine  Richards  and  Miss  Esther  and  Miss 
Eleanor  Knowles,  togeither  with  Masters  Charles  and  William 
Phelps,  are  the  12th  generation  from  John  and  Priscilla  Alden. 

While  many  can  boast  of  their  Pilgrim  ancestry,  numerous 
descendants  of  the  two  brothers  Daniels  2nd  and  Jeremiah  Hub- 
bard lay  claim  to  onginal  native  American  blood.  The  brothers 
married  sisters,  daughters  of  Thomas  Shailer,  who,  according  to 
tradition,  were  closely  allied  to  the  North  American  Indians,  pr6b- 
ably  through  Kathorn  their  mother.  This  lacks  certainty  but 
the  tradition  is  wide-spread. 


GOOD  BYE. 

Our  rambles  and  our  stories  are  now  ended.  We  have  en- 
joyed the  walks  and  the  talks  together. 

Dear  Old  Ponsett  ! 

May  her  sons  and  her  daughters,  however  widely  they  may  be 
scattered,  never  forget  her;  and  when  we  go  the  way  of  all  the 
earth  may  we  be  gathered  to  our  fathers  in  peace ! 


58  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 


OLD    DOCUMENTS. 

We  here  insert  a  copy  of  the  last  will  and  testament  of  Daniel 
Hubbard  1st  of  Ponsett,  a  document  of  general  interest,  and  es- 
pecially so  to  his  numerous  descendants.  He  died  the  year  fol- 
lowing the  making  of  the  will. 

In  the  Name  of  God  Amen. 

The  28th.  day  of  Jan^y  J  Year  of  our  Lord  1754,  I  Danl 
Hubbard,  the  first  of  Haddam  in  J  County  of  Hartford  &  Col- 
lony  of  Connecticut  in  New  England  being  Old  &  far  Advanced 
in  Years  &  Not  Know.g.  how  soon  it  may  please  God  to  Call  me 
hence  by  Death  &  being  of  sound  and  perfect  Mind  &  Memory  Si 
Willing  to  Sett  my  house  in  Ord.r.  before  I  Die  do  therefore 
Make  This  My  Last  Will  &  testament,  that  is  to  say  principally 
&  first  of  All  I  give  my  soul  to  God  that  gave  it  &  My  body  to  J 
dust  from  Whence  it  was  taken  to  be  Decently  buried  at  J 
discretion  of  My  Executor  herein  named  &  as  touch.g.  my 
Worldly  Estate  I  Give  Demise  &  dispose  thereof  in  the  follow.g. 
form  &  Manner.     Viz. 

IMPRIMIS.  I  Give  to  My  D.^.  &  Lov.s.  Wife  Bathsheba  Hub- 
bard all  my  personall  Estate  of  all  sorts  (which  I  have  not  other- 
wise disposed  of  in  this  Will)  to  be  her  Own  for  Ever. 

Item,  as  touch.^.  my  three  sons  Viz.  Dan.l  Hubbard,  ThomAs 
Hubbard  &  Jer.^.  Hubbard  I  have  Already  Given  them  by  deed  of 
Gift  so  much  of  My  Estate  as  I  think  proper  for  them  to  have  & 
therefore  Add  Nothing  herein. 

ITEM.  I  give  to  my  five  daughters  Viz.  Mary  Parmily,  Su- 
sannah Crampton,  Eliz.  Munger,  Hannah  Cone  &  Martha  Stow 
the  sum  of  One  Hundred  &  fifty  pounds  of  my  personall  E^tat^, 
That  is  to  say  so  much  of  my  personall  Estate  as  shall  be  Equall  in 
Value  to  one  hund.&  fifty  pounds  of  bills  of  credit  of  the  old 
t^nor  to  be  Equallly  Divided  betwixt  them  Viz.  to  each  of  them 
thirty  jiounds. 

Also  I  give  to  my  s^  Daughter  Mary  My  Warm.*^.  pan  &  I  make 
&  Ordain   mv   Eldest   son    Viz.    Dan.l    Hubbard   the    second   sole 


By  Gone  Days  in  Fonsett-Haddam  59 

Execut.r  of  this  my  Last  Will  &  testament,  &  I  do  hereby  Utterly 
disallow,  Revoke  &  disanull  all  &  Every  Other  or  former  Wills, 
testaments  &  Legacies,  bequests  &  Execut/^  heretofore  by  me  in 
Any  Wise  Named  Willed  &  bequeathed.,  Ratifiing  &  Confirm.g. 
This  &  No  Other  to  be  my  Last  Will  &  testament. 

In  Witness  Whereof  I  have  hereunto  Sett  my  hand  &  Af- 
filed my  Seal  the  day  &  Year  at  first  Sett  Down, 

(Signed)   Dan.^  Hubbard  first. 

Signed  Sealed  &  publish. d  pronounced  and  declared  by  the 
Said  Dan.^  Hubbard  the  first  to  be  his  Last  Will  &  Testament  in 
presence  of  us  the  Subscribers. 

Dan.l  Hubbard  3d. 
Tim.a  Hubbard. 
Hez.^  Brainard. 


THE  WILL  OF   LIEUT.   JOHN    KXOWLES   FOLLOWS: 

In  the  Name  of  God  Amen. 

The  nineteenth  dav  of  September  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1752. 

I,  John  Knowles  of  Haddam  in  the  County  of  Hartford  and 
Colony  of  Connecticut  in  New  England,  being  very  sick  and  weak 
in  body  but  of  sound  and  perfect  mind  and  memor^s  thanks  be  to 
Ciod,  considering  the  present  weak  and  infirm  state  of  body  not 
knowing  how  soon  it  may  please  the  Sovereign  Lord  of  all  crea- 
tures to  call  me  hence  by  death  and  being  willing  to  set  my  house 
in  order  before  I  die  Do  make  and  ordain  This  my  last  Will  and 
Testament :  That  is  to  say,  principally  and  first  of  all,  I  give 
and  recomend  my  soul  to  God  that  gave  it  and  my  body  I  be- 
queath to  the  earth,  to  be  decently  buried  at  the  discretion  of  my 
Executors  herein  after  named,  and  as  touching  ye  portion  of 
worldly  estate  given  me  I  now  give  and  demise  and  dispose  Thereof 
in  the  following  form  and  manner,  Viz : 


60  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 

IMPRIMIS  I  give  to  my  dear  and  loving  wife  Mehetabel 
two  cows  my  brown  mare,  six  sheep  and  one  third  part  of  all  my 
pers.onal  estate,  exclusive  of  my  stock,  viz.  horses  cattle,  sheep 
and  swine,  to  be  her  own  forever  and  the  use  and  improvement  of 
the  Eastern  half  of  my  dwelling  house,  half  my  barn  and  one- 
third  part  of  my  land  during  the  time  that  she  shall  remain  my 
widow. 

ITEM.  I  give  to  my  eldest  son  Elisha  Knowles  his  heirs  and 
assigns  forever  all  my  interest  in  the  house  that  s^  Elisha 
dwelleth  in  and  one  third  part  of  all  my  real-estate  in  the  build- 
ings and  lands,  exclusive  of  such  buildings  as  I  have  particularly 
disposed  of  in  this  Will.  Also  I  give  to  s^  Elisha  my  youngest 
3'oke  of  oxen,  my  heifer  which  I  bought  of  Lemuel  Pratt  and  one 
fourth  part  of  my  sheep,  after  ni}-  said  wife  shall  have  had  six  of 
them,  one  third  part  of  my  cart  and  irons  and  my  smallest  chain. 

ITEM :  I  give  to  my  second  son  Richard  Knowles,  his  heirs 
and  assigns  forever,  the  house  that  he  now  dwelleth  in,  and  one 
third  part  of  all  my  real  estate  in  buildings  and  lands  except 
my  dwelling  house  and  my  barn  standing  near  to  it  and  my 
interest  in  the  house  that  my  son  Elisha  dwelleth  in.  Also  I 
give  to  said  Richard  my  Bull,  two  steers  one  year  old  past,  one 
fourth  part  of  my  sheep,  after  my  wife  shall  have  had  six  of 
them  and  one  third  part  of  my  cart  and  irons  and  one  feather  bed 
without  furniture  and  my  oldest  saddle. 

ITEM :  I  give  to  my  third  son  William  Knowles  his  heirs 
and  assigns  forever  my  dwelling  house  and  my  barn  standing 
near  said  house  and  one  third  part  of  all  my  real  estate  in  build- 
ings and  lands,  except  the  houses  that  my  sons  Elisha  and  Rich- 
ard now  dwell  in.  Also  I  give  to  said  William  ni}^  oldest  yoke  of 
oxen,  my  youngest  mare,  one  heifer  two  year  old  past,  one  black 
steer  one  year  old  past,  one  fourth  part  of  my  sheep  after  my 
said  wife  shall  have  had  six  of  them,  my  oldest  cow,  one  feather 
bed  and  furniture,  one  chain,  one  plough  with  the  iron  belonging 
to  it,  and  one  third  part  of  my  cart  with  the  irons  belonging  to 
it,  and  my  best  saddle  and  my  best  bridal. 

ITEM.  I  give  to  my  only  daughter  Mehetabel  Smith  one 
brindle  cow,  one  red  heifer,  one  fourth  part  of  my  sheep  after  my 


By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam  61 

said  wife  shall  have  had  six  of  them  and  all  other  of  my  personal 
estate  which  I  have  not  otherwise  disposed  of  in  this  will. 

And  I  make  and  ordain  my  aforesaid  wife  Mehetabel  and  my 
eldest  son  Elisha,  Executors  of  this  my  last  Will  and  Testament 
and  I  do  hereby  utterly  disallow,  revoke,  and  disanul  all  and 
every  other  former  wills,  Testaments,  Legacies  and  Bequests  and 
Executors  heretofore  by  me  in  an3rwise  named  Willed  and  Be- 
queathed, ratifying,  confirming  this  and  no  other  to  be  my  last 
Will  and  Testament.  In  witness  and  for  full  confirmation  thereof 
I  have  here  unto  set  my  hand  and  seal  the  day  and  year  at  first 
above  set  down, 

(signed)    John  Knowles. 
Signed,  Sealed,  Published  and  Pronounced  and  Declared  by  the 
said  John  Knowles,  as  his  last  Will  and  Testament  in  the  pres- 
ence of  us  the  subscribers, 

Williams  Smith 
(signed)      Robert   Cogswell 

Hezekiah  Brainerd. 
[The  inventory  of  the  estate  of  Lieut.  John  Knowles   footed  up 
£4756,  6s.  Od.] 


COPY  OF  DEED  EXECUTED  IX  1769. 

To  all  People  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come.  Greeting. 

KNOW  YE  that  we  Abner  Smith  &  Mehetabel  Smith,  both 
of  Haddam  in  the  County  of  Hartford  &  Colony  of  Connecticut 
in  New  England. 

For  the  Consideration  of  five  pounds  Eight  Shillings  lawful 
Money,  Received  to  our  full  satisfaction,  of  William  Knowles 
of  said  Haddam.  Do  Give,  Grant,  Bargain,  Sell,  and  Confirm 
unto  the  said  William  Knowles,  His  Heirs  &  assigns  forever.  One 
Certain  Peice  of  Land  lying  in  said  Haddam  at  a  Place  called 
Puncet,  Containing  Three  Acres,  Bounded  Easterly  on  Land  of 
said  William  Knowles,  Westerly  on  Land  of  said  Mehetabel  Smith, 
Northerly  on  highway  &  Southerly  on  Land  of  the  said  Abner 
Smith.     To  Have  and  to  Hold  the  above  granted  and  Bargained 


62  By  Gone  Days  in  Ponsett-Haddam 

Premises,  with  the  Appurtances  thereof,  unto  the  said  William 
Knowles  his  Heirs  and  Assigns  forever,  to  his  and  tlieir  own  proper 
Use  and  Behoof.  And  also  We  the  said  Abner  &  Mehetabel 
Smith  do  for  ourselves  our  Heirs,  Executors  and  Adminstrators, 
Covenant  with  the  said  William  Knowles,  his  Heirs  &  Assigns, 
That  at  and  until  the  Ensealing  these  Presents  We  are  well 
Seized  of  the  Premises  as  a  good  indefeasible  Estate  in  Fee-simple; 
and  have  good  Right  to  Bargain  and  Sell  the  same  in  Manner 
and  Form  as  is  above  Written ;  and  that  the  same  is  free  of  all 
Incumbrances  whatsoever.  And  Furthermore,  We  the  said 
Abner  &  Mehetabel  Smith  do  by  these  Presents  bind  ourselves  and 
our  Heirs  forever,  to  WARRANT  and  Defend  the  above  Granted 

and  Bargained  Premises  to  him  the  said  William    

his  Heirs  and  Assigns,  against  all  Claims  and  Demands  whatso- 
ever. In  Witness  Whereof  We  have  hereunto  set  our  Hands  and 
Seals  the  second  Day  of  November  in  the  Tenth  Year  of  the  Reign 
of  Our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Third  of  Great  Britain,  &c. 
KING.     Anno  Domini  1769. 

(Signed)      Abner  Smith 

Mehetabel   Smith. 
Signed  and  sealed 
and  delivered  in  the  Presence  of 
Hez.  Brainerd 
Hannah  Bailey 
Samuel  Hubbard. 


INDEX. 


Page 

ALCX)X,   MISS   LAVINA    28 

ALiDDN,   JOHN    57 

ALDBN,   PRISCILLA    57 

ANDRUS,   DR 52 

ARNOLD,  BECKY   31 

ASHDBY,    MRS 14 

AVERY,  MR 37 

BAILEY,    ANCESTRY    'Hi 

BAILEY.   BENJAMIN    11.  12 

BAILEY,    CHARLES     22 

BAILEY,   DAVID   T 7 

BAILEY,    DR 52 

BaILEY,    FRANK    7 

BAILEY,    HANNAH    62 

BAILEY,   JOHN    56 

BAILEY,    LYMAN    11 

BAILEY.    SUSANNAH    56 

BALY   fSEE  BAILEY).  JOHN 3 

BAILEY,    EPH 3 

BANGS,    EDWARD    56 

BEBCHULSKY,    ROMAN    7 

BIDWELL,    DR 52 

BIZA,   MR 18 

BONFOEY,   ANCESTRY    56 

BONFOEY,   ASHAEL    7,  19 

BONFOEY,  JERUSHA    41 

BONFOEY,   TAMSON    41 

BOWERS,    HOEL    19,  22 

BOWERS,    RUTH     55 

BRAINERD,    ALFRED    8 

BRAINEF^D,    ANCESTRY     56 

BRAINERD,   BENJAMIN    12 

BRAINERD,    CAPT 54 

BRAINERD.  CLEANTHA  41 

BRiAINERD.    DANIEL    6.  55 

BRAINERD,    ELLEN    42 

BRAINERD.   HEZEKIAH    61,62 

BRAINERD,    JACOB    26 

HRAINEiRD.  JAMES   S 

BiRAINERD,  ROBERT   IS 

BRAINERD.   CAPT.   SYLVESTER 

12,  22.  55 

BROOKS.    ABRAHAM    43 

BURDICK,  LBROY    11 

BURR,  MISS  ALICE   R 48 

BURR,   ASA    S 7 

BURR,   DR 52 

BURR,  MISS  HARiRIET  E 48 

BURR,   .JONATHAN    H 48 

BURR,   MARGARET    DENISON    ....   48 

CATLIN,   DR 52 

CLARK,  ANCESTRY    56 

CLARK,   BETTY    9,   16,  29 

CLARK,    DR 52 

CLARK,   FREDUS    18 

CLARK,    JOHN     55 

TLARK,  MICHAEL  21 

CLARK,    ORRIN     29 


Page 

CLARK,   RUSSELL    55 

CLARK,  SMITH    33 

CLARK,  STEPHEN    18,  55 

CIjARK.    WILLIAM    56 

COGSWELL,  ROBERT    61 

COIT,    REV.    DR 51 

CONE,    HANNAH    .58 

ORAMPTON.   SUSANNAH    58 

CURTICE,  REV.  SAUL  O .50 

DESBON,  REV.  DR 48 

DICKINSON,  EDWIN   W 10 

DWIGHT,    LAUiRA    30 

FERGT'SON     .5,    12.    24 

FIELD.   I)U 15,  37 

FISH.   MISS  MARY  ELEANOR 48 

FLORENCE,  EUZEBE    23 

FLORENCE.  MRS.  LOUIS   17 

FULLER.   REV.  SAMl'EL    51 

GIPSON,   TIMOTHY    27 

GL.\ DOING,  AVILLIAM     ,54 

GLA:dDING,  NAOMI   8 

GLADWIN,    DINAH    42 

GOODWIN,    REV.    FR.ANCIS 51 

GREGORY,    REV.    H.   T .51 

HALE,  LORA    B 33 

HAZBN,   DR .52 

eiLL,    DR 52 

HITCHINGS.   REV.    H.   B 51 

HOPKINS,  STEPHEN   57 

HOROCEK,   MR 14 

HUBBARD,  AARON    18 

HUBBARD,  CAPT.   ABRAHAM    ...8,  55 
HTBBARD.    ACHSAH    A.    DICKIN- 
SON   .33 

HUBBARD.  ALBURN  C 16 

HUBBARD,   A MASA    16.  48,  52 

HI'BBARD,  ANCESTRY   .56 

HUBBARD,   MRS.   ANNA    54 

HUBBARD    ASA  14 

HUBBARD,  ASHAEL   17 

HI'BBARD.  ATRUNAH   8 

HUBBARD,  BATIISHEBA   58 

HUBBARD.    BET^Y   BURR    48,52 

HUBBARD.    CALVIN    17,  55 

HUBBARD,  CATHARINE 14 

HUBBARD,    CYRUS    14 

HUBB.UtD.  CYRUS  A 14.  15,  26 

HI'BBARD,   DANIEL    8.  20,  54.  56 

HUBBARD,  DANIEL  1st 8,  15,  58 

HI'BBARD,  DANIEL  2nd    15,  .56,  57 

HUBBARD.  D.^NIEL  3rd    57.  59 

HUBBARD.    DAVID    14.  25.  54 

HT^BBARD.    DAVID    1st    13 

HUBBARD.     DAVID    2nfl     13 

HUBBARD,      REV.      D.      B.      fDavid 
Brainerdt     23,  4S 


83 


64 


INDEX 


Page 

DEACON    25,  27 

EDMUND    8,  43 

EDI  18,  44 

EDMER   WILCOX    27 

EMMA    BRAINECD....   48 
EPAPHRODITUS 

D)    10,  20,  3:1 

FRANK    L 54 

(lEoROE     5(5 

II  AD  ASS  AH   14,  41 

HIONRY   13 

IIERMON   E 33 

JA.MES    18,  54 

JEREMIAH, 

14,   35,  54,   56,   57,  58 
CAPT.  JEREMIAH  2nd,  10 

JOB.,    SR 23,  26,  53 

JOB.,  JR 23 

JOBIj   8,  22,  43 

JOED  2nd  54 

JOHN  43,  53 

REV.    JONATHAN 

48 

JOSEPH  B 23 

JOSEPH   S 48 

JOSHUA    17 

JULIA    25 

LUSINA   41,  42 

MARY  (Aunt  Polly),  8,  9,  22 

MATTHEW    55 

MIRIAM     14,  41 

MORRIS    8 

OSWIX    44 

REUBEN    54 

RHODA     14,  41 

ROSWELL    7,  20 

SAMUEL    20,  54.  62 

CAPT.   SAMUEL, 

6,  19.  23.  24,  :'.2 
DR.  SAMUEL  THOMAS 

16,  52 

SHAILER   14 

SIMEON    10,  55 

SMITH  20 

SUSANNAH    14 

SYLVESTE'R, 

6,   14,    15,   25,   54 
TEMPERANCE    ...8,  15,  20 

THEODORE    6 

THOMAS   1st    16,  58 

THOMAS  2nd    16 

TIMOTHY    17,  54,  59 

HUNTINOTON,    NANCY    M 44 

HUSBAND,  R.  W 36,  37 

HUTCHINGSON,  D'R 52 


HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
(Ei):ti)lir() 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 

HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
BURR  .. 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 

HUBBARD 

HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 

HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 
HUBBARD 


JACKSON,  TIMOTHY    H 

JIIRjOUDEK,   PAUL    8 

KELLOGG.   DB 52 

KIRKLAND,    MR 37 

KNOWLES,    ANCESTRY    56 

KNOWLES,  APPIHIA    BANGS    56 

KNOWLES,  DANIEL     19 

KNOWLES,  MISS  ELEANOR    57 

KNOWLES,  ELISHA    10,  11.  60 


Page 

KNOWLES,  ELISHA,  JR 10 

KNOWLES,  ELIZABETH   WELLS... 23 

KNOWLES,  ERASTUS    H 55 

KNOWLES,    ESTHER    57 

KNOWLES,  HARRIS  E 10 

KNOWLES,    HUBERT    W 7 

KNOWLES,   ENSIGN   JAMES    54 

KNOWLES,  JEHIEL    25 

KNOWLES,  JOHN    ....10.  43,  53,  56,  58 
KNOWLES,  LIEUT.    JOHN, 

9    11    54    57    59 
KNOWLES,  COL.  JOHN  '....'....'....'  50 

KNOWLES,  JOHN    C 10 

KNOWLES,  JOHN  H 10,  29,  44,  49 

KNOWLES,  JOSHUA    11,  34 

KNOWLES,  MRS.    JUDITH    47 

KNOWLES,  MARY  SEARS   56 

KNOWLES,  MEHETABEL  WALKEK, 

57,  60 

KNOWLES,   MIl^ANDA     42 

KNOWLES.  RICHARD    ....9,  10,   11,  56 

KNOWLES,   RICHARD    2ud    9,60 

KNOWLES,  iRUBL     19 

KNOWLES,    SALLY    29 

KNOWLES,   SARAH    43 

KNOWLES,  SIMON    32,  55 

KNOWLES,    TAXSON    M.    CLARK... 49 
KNOWLEkS,   WALKER  ....20,  23,  32,  54 

KNOWLES,  WELLS    32,  55 

KNOWLES,    WHLLARD, 

7.   10.  22,  23,   25,  43 
KNOWLES,  WILLIAM,  10.  11,  28,  60,  61 

KNOWLES,  WILLIAM   1st    59 

KNOWLES,  WILLIAM    2nd    10 

KNOWLES,  WILLIAM        C.        (Rev. 

William  Clark)    10,  49 

KNOWLES,  ZERUIAH    10,  28 

LANFIDR    (Lampierl    WILLIAM....  43 

LANTRY,   MR 19 

LEE,  HENRY    18,  55 

MATTHEWS,  JOHN 37 

MAY,  C.  B 33 

MILLER,  DR.  AMOS  S 53 

MOONEY,    MRS.    OLIVE    B 20 

MORRILL,  JOHN  L 5.  55 

MUDGE,  EBENEZER    12 

MUNGEIR,    ELIZABETH    58 

NABAHUETT,   KING    4 

NOVOTNY,  JOHN    11 

PARMILY,    MARY    58 

PHELPS,  CHARLES  57 

PHELPS,  WILLIAM  57 

PLANATA,   JOHN    13 

PLANATA,    JOSEPH    10 

PLATT,  FREDERIC 22.  54 

PORTER,    MR 20,  43 

PORTOR,  MRS.  NAOMI    21 

PORTOR.    GILES     21 

PRATT.  LEMUEL  54,  60 

RICIL^RDS,    MISS   EFFIB    5T 

RICHARDS.    MISS   ESTHER    57 


INDEX 


65 


Page 

BICHARiDS,    JEHIBL    25 

RICHARDS,    MISS    JOSEPHINE 5C 

RICHARDS,   LUSINA  HUBBARD    ..  25 
RICHARDS,  OSCAR  F 9 

SACHUSQUATEVEMAPID,  KING    ..     4 
SEPUNNEMOPAMPOSSAME, 

QUEEN 4 

SHAILER,    JOSEPH    R 12 

SHAILER,  KATHORN  57 

SHAILER,  THOMAS  57 

SIMONS,  AiBiRAJVI  (Abraham), 

12,  as,  3e,  37,  38 

SIMONS,  ABRAM  2nd    38 

SIMONS,    DANIEL    36.  37 

SIMONS,    "DBNCB",    See    Simons, 
Prudence. 

SIMONS,  ESTHER   38,  39,  43,  44 

SIMONS,    PRUDENCE    (Deuce), 

12,  38,  39,  42,  43 

SIMONS,  SYLVANUS    38 

SIMONS,  TAMAR   36,  38,  39 

SKINNER,  CHAUNCEY  D 8 

SKINNER,  MRS.  EUNICE   47 

SMITH,  ABNER    9,  60.  61 

SMITH,   AARON    54 

SMITH,   CHALLENGE   43 

SMITH,   DAVUS    11 

SMITH,    DEBORAH    30 

SMITH,   DR 52 

SMITH,   HAZAEL    ..9,   11,  22.  25.  30,  31 

SMITH,   IRWIN,   W 11 

SMIT-H,  MISS  LAURA  D 30,  41 

SMITH,  LUCY    41 

SMITH,  MARIAM  41 

SMITH,   MARY     41 

SMITH,  MEHETABEL 60,  61,  62 

SMITH,    STEPHEN    31 

SMITH,  THANKFUL    41 

SMITH.    WILLIAMS    61 

SNYDER,   MR 23 

SOBUCK,   JIM,   JR 34 

KOBUCK,   JIM,    SR 34 

SPENCER,  ABAGAIL,  CEARK 51 

SPENCER,   ABIATHA    55 

SPENCER.   SEK<;'T  ABNER    17,  54 

SPENCER.    ABRAHAM    19 

SPENCER,  A  LP.FRT     "1 

SPENCER,  ALANSON    6.   7.   18,  34 

SPENCER,  ALBERT     IG 

SPENCER,  ALVAH  W 13 

SPENCER,  ALVIN   B 22 

SPENCER,  ANNE     21 

SPENCER.  ATWOOD     17 

SPENCER.   BENJAMIN    P 22 

SPENCER.   DAMARIS    17,  41 

SPENCER,  DAVID    13,  23 

SI'ENCER,  CAPT.   DAVID    17,  25 

SPENCER,  DAVID    2nd    17 

SPENCER,  ELIZT'R    9,  12,   13,  34,  54 

SPENCER,   EPIIRAIM    9 

SPENCER,   ESTHER      .  .  .'. 41.  42 

SPENCER,  FELIX    13,  22 

SPENCER,   HANNAH    41,  42 

SPENCER,    JAMES    6 


Page 

SPENCER,  JEiHOSOPHAT    17 

SPENCER,  JONATH.\N    P.... 13,    22,  26 

SPENCER,  NATHANIEL   3 

SPENCER,  RUSSELL     55 

SPENCER,    SAMUEL    19,20,54 

SPENCER,   SAMUEL  T 55 

SPENCER,  UPuSULA    41,  42 

SPENCER,  URwSULA   HUBBARD    ...     7 

SPENCER,    WILLIAM   EDGAR    7 

"SQUAW"   MOLL    34 

STOW,  BATHSHEBA     56 

STOW,  MARTHA   58 

SUTLIEF,  MISS    EUNICE    15,29 

SUTLIEF,  HEZEKIAH    ....7,   15,   19,  27 

SUTLIEF,  JAMES    13 

SUTL/IEF,  NATHANIEL     15 

SUTLIEF,  ROSWELL   7,  19,  26,  55 

SYMONDS,    ABRA3I,   See    Simons 
Abram. 

THOMAS,  ALBERT 19 

THOMAS,  CORPOR.VL  A.\RON    54 

THOMAS,  ANCESTRY   57 

THOMAS,  ANSEL     12 

THOMAS,  CAL VI N     12,  25 

THOMAS,  MRS.    CALVIN    12 

THOMAS,  CYNTHIA     41 

THOALAS,  EBENEZER 11,  12,  54 

THOMAS,  EBENEZER,    JR 12 

THOMAS,    EMILY    (Emily   E.) 20,  32 

THOMAS,  EVAN  54 

THOMAS,  ISRAEL     22 

THOilAS,  CAPT.  JAMES   8,  22,  25 

THOMAS,  JAMES  ORSON   32 

THOJLIS,  JAMES     S 20,  25 

THOMAS,  MARY     22 

THO>L\S,  PRINCE    43 

THOMAS,  ROGER     11,  57 

THOM.AS,   SHERMAN     H 27 

TOWKISHE,   QUEEN   4 

TREAT.  C(  ).MF()RT  J 11 

TREAT,    JOSEPH     22 

TREMAINE,   DR 52 

TRUMBULL,    JONATHAN     27 

TURNER,    JOHN    5,  8 

TURRAMUGGUS,  KING    4 

WALKLEY,  ASA   10,  43 

WARNER,    DR 52 

WELLS,  ELIZABETH    23 

WELDS,    JOSEPH    32 

WHEELOCK,  DR 36,  37 

WIILCOX,  ANCESTRY   57 

WILCOX,    EBENEZER    6 

WILCOX,   FREDERICK    7 

WILCOX,  JOHN   57 

WILCOX,    MRS 17 

WILLIAMS,    BISHOP     51 

WINCHELL,   GEORGE  D 14 

WOOD,  DELIA  A.   CLARK 49 

WOOD,  REV.    GEORGE    49 

WOOD,  LLOYD  A 18,  49,  55 

WOODRUFF,  BLEAZER  52 

WOODRUFF,   DR.   E.LEAZER 19,  52 


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